Four new units representing a £75 million investment by a property developer could be created in South Staffordshire.
Bericote has launched the Phase II of its Four Ashes Park development which has already delivered 1 million sq ft in three units fully let to Gestamp, GSF Car Parts and Haulotte UK, over 1,000 jobs and £140 million investment.
The latest phase proposes four small to medium-sized units totalling almost 350,000 sq ft across use classes B2 (general industrial) and B8 (storage and distribution), with ancillary offices and associated parking.
The units, ranging from 50,000 sq ft to 110,000 sq ft, would be situated immediately alongside the three buildings already delivered and be surrounded by future large scale commercial development being created by the West Midlands Interchange project.
A document outlining the Phase II proposals states: “The West Midlands Interchange (WMI) project is focused on very large rail-linked warehouses. Units of the size proposed here are not provided for within the current WMI masterplan. This scheme is therefore intended to meet demand from smaller local and regional occupiers which cannot be accommodated on the WMI site.”
It adds: “Depending on the end users, the proposed development could create up to 560 jobs directly, and up to 807 jobs in the wider area, in addition to around £38.7m of GVA in every year of operation. New jobs will also be created during construction and in the supply chain.”
The site sits within the Green Belt, but Bericote has said woodland on the site is in poor ecological condition and another nearby area of land also owned by the company is being considered for biodiversity enhancements linked to the proposals, alongside further off-site provision where required.
Bericote will aim for the units to meet a BREEAM Outstanding rating.
The company declined to comment on the launch of Phase II when approached by Daily Focus, but a statement on social media by managing director Richard Saint reads: “The economic uncertainty is over, interest rates are down, it is safe for UK business to start investing again.
“There is no BREEAM outstanding stock in the pipeline anywhere in the UK, and as occupiers re-emerge, we will meet that need.”
More information about the proposals, including how people can have their say, can be found here.
