A £120 million technology park that could create over 5,000 new jobs and give Worcestershire’s economy a major boost has been given the green light by planners.
Leading Birmingham-based commercial property developer Stoford welcomed Wychavon District Council’s decision to grant planning consent for the exciting development of the 90-acre site at junction 6 of the M5.
Worcester 6 – formerly known as Worcester Technology Park – could provide up to 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation in a range of high quality business units.
Stoford appointed lead planning consultants Barton Willmore to submit a reserved matters planning application late last year for an office building and a section 73 application to remove and vary a number of planning conditions attached to the outline.
Following the planning committee’s decision on Thursday, March 5, Stoford – which has been appointed as the development partner by landowner The Spetchley Estate can now begin the on-site infrastructure design and procurement process. Work on local off-site highway improvements at the Worcester site will begin by the middle of this year.
The development site has been identified by Worcestershire County Council, and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP), as one of four key ‘game changer’ sites – key employment sites seen as important in driving the county’s economic future prosperity.
Stoford director Gerard Ludlow said: “It is of course fantastic news that Worcester Six now has a deliverable planning consent and we are looking forward to making good progress with this important project this year. We are confident that the development, which is in a strategically very strong location, will attract high quality occupiers who will bring jobs and investment into the area.”
Gary Woodman, Executive Director of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Worcestershire Strategic Economic Plan puts this key employment site at the top of our priorities for economic growth and job creation. It is the best development site between Birmingham and Bristol with first class access and connectivity to the rest of UK. Worcestershire is a world class place for business and, now that planning consent has been granted, the creation of high quality employment opportunities can continue at pace. We will start this summer with work to Pershore Lane, which will be funded by us using the Government’s Growth Deal.”
Councillor Simon Geraghty, Deputy Leader of Worcestershire County Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure, said: “The County Council’s top priority is to ensure Worcestershire is ‘Open for Business’. The delivery of these economic ‘game changer’ sites, along with other infrastructure schemes, is a key part of the drive to ensure that business in the county thrives. Creating the supply of employment land is vital to support business conditions to allow companies to grow and compete on the world’s stage.”
Stoford is a leading specialist in occupier-focused development. It has delivered over 10 million sq ft of pre-let development and in 2012 to 2014 had more than 1.5 million sq ft of pre-let space under construction throughout the UK.