Plans submitted for £343m employment park

A planning application for a £343 million employment park in North Warwickshire to secure domestic advanced manufacturing, R&D and logistics jobs has been submitted.

 The proposals from Midland-based property developer, IM Properties, for Thrive near Curdworth and  Junction 9 of the M42, could create between 4,400 and 6,000 full-time jobs when the site is fully occupied.

The application has been submitted to North Warwickshire Borough Council and Birmingham City Council.

The company is aiming to deliver a much-needed new destination for high skilled jobs across the automotive, aerospace, rail manufacturing, low carbon and digital technologies sectors.

Delivering three-million sq ft of industrial space, a minimum of 30 per cent of the site is being promoted for advanced manufacturing.

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.”

Proposals for the 135-hectare site have also been developed to help future occupiers on the site transition from fossil fuels to all electric operations.

IM Properties’ application follows two stages of consultation which included engagement with local communities and businesses, extensive dialogue with key regional stakeholders, as well as work with a youth panel to understand needs, opportunities and aspirations for the project with a particular focus on employment and skills.