i54 expansion plans approved and set to create 1,300 jobs
Plans to extend the i54 business park by 60 acres and create at least 1,300 jobs have been backed by South Staffordshire Council.
Councillors rubber-stamped the proposals to develop land in Pendeford and expand the current development off the M54 near Wolverhampton, despite concerns raised about the traffic impact to local villages.
It comes as part of major plans from Wolverhampton Council and Staffordshire County Council to extend the business hub generating up to £600 million in investment and thousands of jobs.
Companies already based at the i54 include car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, Moog Aircraft Group and Eurofins Food Testing.
South Staffordshire Council's planning committee delegated approval to the team manager at a meeting yesterday, subject to the condition that a Section 106 funding agreement is signed by May 28.
A number of councillors raised concerns about the impact on areas including Bilbrook, and one councillor moved a recommendation for the plan to be refused over concerns about a lack of street lighting and the footpath conditions around the nearby caravan park.
Councillor Val Chapman, for Bilbrook, said: "I'm not looking for refusal, but I do have specific concerns about additional traffic through the village of Bilbrook.
"There has been a notable increase in businesses without any notable infrastructure improvement.
"It will undoubtedly carry more traffic through an already stretched village."
Proposals would see development on land between Wobaston Road, Pendeford Hall Lane and to the west of the current i54 site.
The development would be accessed via a new junction off the M54 but a new access road will also be constructed, with proposals to also extend public transport services.
