i54 business park's extension gets underway
Work has started on a new access road into a major business park on edge of Wolverhampton as part of its expansion plans.
The road, at the i54 South Staffordshire, will mark the start of the western extension of the site which could bring around 1,700 jobs and bring £300 million in investment.
Machines have already moved onto the business park, with work already getting under way.
Preparation for factory platforms, services, and infrastructure works will follow next year – with new occupiers set to arrive from 2022.
It comes after Wolverhampton Council, Staffordshire County Council and South Staffordshire Council agreed a funding plan to deliver the road and the first 60 acres of land. Wolverhampton Council leader, councillor Ian Brookfield, said: “i54 plays a big part in the lives of many families in the City of Wolverhampton and Staffordshire and this is a major boost for them and the local economy.
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We are now building on the success of what is already one of the UK’s premier advanced manufacturing business parks.
“Demand is high for more accommodation from potential investors in a number of sectors and the western extension will enable us to deliver that for the benefit of local residents and businesses.”
Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and Stoke-On-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership have backed the project financially.
Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for economic growth, said: “
An extension to the current site, which is in an Enterprise Zone, was a logical move for us as we know there is high demand from businesses from a range of sectors.”
The current i54 site has a workforce of around 2,700 people, with half of the jobs held by people living within a 10-mile radius.
South Staffordshire Council leader, councillor Brian Edwards MBE, said: “This is good news for the area and it’s exciting that work is now getting underway on the extension.”
