The proposed Thrive business park – twice the size of neighbouring Peddimore – moves a step closer after formal planning applications are submitted
A planning application has been lodged to build a new giant employment park on green belt land on the edge of Birmingham, which could create up to 6,000 new jobs.
IM Properties, the firm behind the Peddimore site in Sutton Coldfield, which currently has Amazon as its sole occupier, has submitted applications to both North Warwickshire Borough Council and Birmingham City Council for a new £343 million industrial site nearby.
‘Thrive’ is a proposed business park which would sit north of Curdworth and south of Wishaw and The Belfry, close to junction 9 of the M42.
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At 135 hectares, it would be twice the size of Peddimore and aims to attract ‘high-quality advanced manufacturing, R&D (research and development) and logistics’.
The site will have a whopping three million square feet of industrial space with property developer, IM Properties, saying a ‘minimum of 30 per cent of the site is being promoted for advanced manufacturing’.
The aim is for the site to be a ‘much-needed new destination for high-skilled jobs across the automotive, aerospace, rail manufacturing, low carbon and digital technologies sectors’.
It will have ‘dedicated’ space for ‘entrepreneurial, high-technology start-up businesses, leading advanced manufacturers and high-value logistics companies’ in a ‘landscaped parkland setting’.
IM Properties has said Thrive will create between 4,400 and 6,000 new full-time jobs when it is fully occupied.
And has said the site is ‘urgently needed’ with an estimated one year’s supply of employment lane left in the key M42 corridor.
The sites are needed to ‘support the growth of current businesses and attract future investors to the region’ IM Properties says.
Read more: Concerns raised over second huge employment park plan on edge of town
It is boosting the site’s eco credentials saying it will help occupiers move from fossil fuels to all-electric operations, with energy-efficient ‘Passivhaus’ standard buildings – the ‘first industrial units in the UK’ to meet the criteria.
They will be encouraged to be net zero in operation ‘where viable’.
And a central green corridor leading to a ‘mobility hub’ with eco-friendly transport options such as buses, bicycles, e-scooters, and smart electric vehicle charging stations.
Half of Thrive would be ‘dedicated to green and blue infrastructure’ with a network of accessible open spaces and lakes which will feature ‘community orchards and allotments, trim trails, play space and areas of reflection for use by site occupiers and the community alike’.
Lewis Payne, development director at IM Properties said: “Against a challenging global economic and geopolitical backdrop, the West Midlands needs a new employment site to support domestic high quality advanced manufacturing, R&D and logistics.
“This is vital to securing a resilient, diverse local economy, and at a time when opportunities for many people in Britain are limited, it’s also about ensuring we can create skilled jobs and deliver wider social value.
“Thrive is central to supporting the region’s industrial strategy and it can create significant new job opportunities across North Warwickshire, north east Birmingham and north Solihull.”
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But residents have previously raised objections to another employment park in the area being build on green belt land.
Commenting when the plans were previously mooted one said: “Just how much more rubbish going to be allowed around Curdworth?
“May as well cover the whole lot in concrete and done with it.”
And another adding: “Unbelievable how can all of this happen? Does Green Belt mean nothing?”
Increased traffic was also raised as a concern by Walmley and Minworth Birmingham city councillor, Ken Wood, who said: “We were already concerned about the volume of traffic from day one when Peddimore was pushed forward. We wanted two entries to that site.
“With this proposed development in Curdworth, we know Dunton Island is already at capacity at the moment. This will compound the problem. Residents are going to be really concerned, especially in Curdworth.”
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IM Properties has said it has already carried out two informal consultations which included engagement with local communities and businesses and spoken to ‘with key regional stakeholders’.
It has also spoken to a youth panel asking about their ‘needs, opportunities and aspirations’ particularly at employment and skills.
It also says it has worked with more than 50 stakeholders to develop a ‘comprehensive social value strategy’ to create a legacy for the site.
BirminghamLive has yet to see the formal submitted planning applications and will report further when we have had chance to do so.
