A planning application for a £343 million forward-thinking employment park in North Warwickshire to drive the region’s economic growth and 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 on-site 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 3 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.”
With an estimated one year’s supply of strategic employment land remaining along the M42 corridor there is an urgent need for sites that can support the growth of current businesses and attract future investors to the region.
Thrive would provide dedicated space for entrepreneurial, high technology start-up businesses, leading advanced manufacturers and high value logistics companies, all within a landscaped parkland setting.
The proposals for the 135-hectare site have also been carefully developed to help future occupiers on the site transition from fossil fuels to all electric operations. Sustainability is key to the development, which will aim for the highest environmental credentials. Buildings on site for start-up businesses will be the first industrial units in the UK designed to Passivhaus standard, an international energy performance standard for buildings.
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.
The company has worked in partnership with over 50 stakeholders to develop a comprehensive social value strategy. It has been designed to create a legacy for the site with a focus on education and skills, health and wellbeing, accessibility and inclusive employment.
The proposed site layout will include high quality buildings designed to align with IM Properties’ Sustainable Futures strategy and its focus on People, Planet and Place. This approach has informed the application for building and landscape design, biodiversity, highways improvements, active travel and a commitment to social value.
With around half the site dedicated to green and blue infrastructure, a network of accessible open spaces and lakes will feature community orchards and allotments, trim trails, play space and areas of reflection for use by site occupiers and the community alike. A central green corridor will lead to a mobility hub, offering eco-friendly transport options such as buses, bicycles, e-scooters, and smart EV charging stations.
The project will be developed in line with Emerging Net Zero Carbon Building Standards utilising renewable technologies, low energy design and championing sustainable procurement to mitigate climate impacts. Occupiers will also be encouraged to operate in a more sustainable way through adoption of green leases and where viable to be net zero in operation.
Thrive will also bring benefits including skills, training, education initiatives and support for projects which could benefit communities surrounding the site throughout the delivery and operation of the development, with IM Properties establishing a framework within which future occupiers can also support local communities.
