250 jobs to be created under Smethwick industrial estate revamp
More than 250 jobs will be created as part of an £8 million revamp of an industrial estate in Smethwick, it has been announced.
The overhaul of the Parkrose Industrial Estate will create 263 jobs, according to the Black Country LEP, which has pledged more than £750,000 to the scheme.
More than six acres of brownfield land will be developed under the plans, creating 89,100 sq ft of new floorspace.
Bosses have said they are looking to start work on the site as soon as possible.
The overall development will cost £8.7m, with LEP chiefs signing off £757,839 for the project at their latest meeting.
Twenty small businesses could be housed on the 6.68-acre site in Middlemore Road under the plans.
Smethwick town lead Ann Jaron, who welcomed the funding, said: “For an area that was built on manufacturing, any industry and new jobs is very welcome.
"Green field sites in Sandwell are rare and we have maintained those and tried to improve them.
“But we’ve also got a lot of brownfield spaces and we need to develop those sites for jobs – and sometimes for housing.
"This is good news for Smethwick and any new jobs for the area are always welcome."
A Black Country LEP board report says: “This application seeks grant funding to the value of £757,839 towards delivery of an estimated £8.7m project.
“The scheme will deliver 20 business units totalling 89,100 sq ft on unused brownfield land under the ownership of Mint Property Developments within the Parkrose Industrial Estate.
“The project will deliver remediation of 6.68 acres of brownfield land that is currently unused; new accommodation totalling 89,100 sq ft; an estimated 263 indirect new and safeguarded jobs; and support potential economic growth of 20 small organisations.”
