Leading commercial property developer, Stoford is celebrating a decade since the start of development at Worcester Six Business Park.
Fronting J6 of the M5, the 72 hectares of land, which was originally identified as one of four ‘gamechangers’ for Worcestershire, now features circa 1.2 million square feet of commercial real estate delivered since 2015.
A total of 11 buildings have been completed under the BREEAM Communities framework, ranging in size from 19,849 to 180,121 sq ft, with a new purpose-built unit of 278,048 sq ft currently under construction for global manufacturer, MiTek.
Worcester Six has already brought a number of other world-class businesses into the region. Current occupiers include Bidfood, Alliance Flooring Distribution, IONOS, ZwickRoell, Kohler Mira, Sierra CP Engineering, Spire Healthcare, Kimal, Material Solutions, Super Smart Service, and Stop Start Logistics.
Stoford began highways and infrastructure works at the business park in 2015 having been appointed as the development partner by landowner, The Spetchley Estate. The infrastructure has been further extended, most recently incorporating the southern extension to the business park.
Worcester Six has attracted around £300 million of private sector investment over the last decade, creating hundreds of jobs through the development process as well as significant income to the local authority.
The site has also been identified for outstanding performance, not just economically but environmentally. Enhancements include 40% green infrastructure apportionment (16.57 hectares), 100% retention of ancient woodland and traditional wet grassland meadows, 3 hectares of new woodland and shrub planting, and the replacement of 527m species of poor hedgerow with new, species-rich hedgerow.
Through pro-active engagement with Worcestershire’s Green Infrastructure Partnership, Stoford has worked to protect and promote the site’s natural and historic environmental assets including its archaeology, biodiversity, rights-of-way, recreational assets and quality landscapes.
Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford, said: “I’m extremely proud of the commercial spaces we’ve delivered in the last 10 years, and of the positive impact on the local area. We’re committed to creating a high-quality business park that attracts world-class businesses. Looking forward, it is exciting to anticipate ongoing growth including the second phase which is well underway with the recent addition of global manufacturer, MiTek.”
Cllr Richard Morris, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, said: “Wychavon has been a key partner in the success of Worcester Six over the last ten years including investing £1.5 million into the project and securing additional private sector investment. Our local economy has reaped the benefits of this through the jobs and opportunities created. It is a demonstration of what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared purpose. I look forward to continuing to see Worcester Six thrive in the years to come as a beacon of innovation, growth and collaboration.”
Councillor Adam Kent, Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills at Worcestershire County Council, commented: “Worcester Six has been instrumental in driving our county’s economic growth over the past 10 years. The development has attracted significant investment and created valuable job opportunities for local people. It’s exciting to see so many businesses thriving here, and we look forward to continued growth and success in the years ahead.”
