A £120 million technology park that will create over 5,000 new jobs and give Worcestershire’s economy a major boost has taken a step closer with the start of vital highways improvements.
The improvements to Pershore Lane and Plough Lane roundabout, Worcester, near junction 6 of the M5, are due to be completed in early 2016.
Worcester Six – formerly known as Worcester Technology Park – will provide up to 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation in a range of high quality business units. Stoford has been appointed as the development partner by landowner The Spetchley Estate.
With funding from the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership through the Growth Deal, Worcestershire County Council, working in partnership with leading Birmingham-based commercial property developer Stoford, has begun a programme of work to provide greater access and improve traffic flow to the ‘Game-Changer’ Worcester Six site.
The development site has been identified within Worcestershire’s Strategic Economic Plan as one of four ‘game changer’ sites – key employment sites seen as important in driving the county’s economic future prosperity.
Mark Stansfeld, chair of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Worcester Six is widely considered to be one of the best potential sites between Birmingham and Bristol.
“Improvements to Pershore Lane are key to opening up this employment site, which will provide exciting opportunities for a range of businesses, including digital and technology rich companies, bringing investment and a wealth of jobs to Worcestershire.”
Stoford director Gerard Ludlow said: “It is very exciting to see the progress being made already at Worcester Six and we are confident that we will be in a position to welcome the first occupiers towards the end of next year.
“The highways improvements are now underway and we are procuring for the on-site infrastructure and roads. The development, which is in a strategically very strong location, will attract high quality occupiers who will bring jobs and investment into the area.”
He added: “Of course, we sincerely apologise if the necessary highways works leads to any local traffic disruption, but we will do all we can to keep this to a minimum.”
Councillor Simon Geraghty, deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council and cabinet member with responsibility for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure, said: “Worcester Six is one of our four identified ‘game-changer’ sites across the county, which are key to realising the county’s ambition of creating 25,000 new jobs by 2025 and making a stepped change in our economic potential, as set out in the county’s ten year economic plan.
“It’s fantastic to see plans progressing, turning the ambitious plans, part of our World Class Worcestershire vision, into a reality.”
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.