Work underway on new Bilston business park set to create more than 330 jobs

City of Wolverhampton Council says the 15-acre site known as Foundry Park, located off Brook Street, will tackle a shortage of accommodation for small and medium sized firms in the region once completed, as well as offering larger units suitable for national occupiers.

Oldbury-based developer Goold Estates has started work on site following confirmation of a £12.5m investment by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to help kick-start the project on the former industrial site, which requires a scheme of remediation works before construction can begin in 2025.

Planning consent for the scheme was granted earlier this year.

“Bringing this strategically important site forward has been a long-term ambition for the council and I am delighted to see our chosen developer, Goold Estates, start works to create new industrial and distribution units that will deliver hundreds of jobs for our residents," said City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Simkins.

“It is another major milestone for Bilston Urban Village, where we have also realised our vision of creating hundreds of new affordable homes for families.

“The urban village offers extensive areas of open space to enjoy on the doorstep, new schools for kids to learn in, a top-class leisure centre nearby, a family pub/restaurant on tap – and further investment happening in the town centre.

“This strong employment, housing and leisure offer is also supported by purpose-built transport connectivity."

The WMCA funding is being used in part to cover the cost of cleaning up the site and making it ready for the construction of 15 industrial and distribution units offering 166,500 square feet of accommodation to suit a variety of uses.

Richard Parker, Mayor for the West Midlands, and Chair of the WMCA, added: “Foundry Park will bring new life to this site and create over 300 much needed jobs for local people.

“This modern, environmentally sustainable development will give businesses room to grow and contribute to the community. It will also help tackle a shortage of high-quality workspaces for our region’s smaller firms.

“Investments like this strengthen our local economy and build a solid foundation for future growth that benefits everyone across the West Midlands.”

The scheme represents the final phase of the Bilston Urban Village project, which also includes 78 homes off Dudley Street and 420 homes off Coseley Road.

Dominic Goold, managing director of Goold Estates, said: “This brownfield site has a complex industrial legacy which has kept it vacant for more than 20 years.

“It required consultation with a number of third parties to progress the site’s development, but we are excited to have begun remediation works. 

“We have considerable experience of regenerating derelict sites that bring economic and environmental benefits to local communities. Foundry Business Park has the potential to create hundreds of new jobs, secure the future of many firms in the region and attract inward investment.”