Plans for a new economic growth zone in Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire to further boost innovation and employment have been laid out at UKREiiF 2025.
The proposed scheme would focus economic growth at existing employment sites along the M54/A449 corridor and has been developed by South Staffordshire Council, Staffordshire County Council and the City of Wolverhampton Council.
The Central Edge is a unique business ecosystem, giving partners and investors ‘the edge’ in advanced manufacturing, innovation-led research and development and sustainable technologies.
Broadening out from Wolverhampton city centre, along the A449 up to M6 J13, the designated area includes Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor (GIC) and sustainable logistics and advanced manufacturing locations in South Staffordshire.
The GIC connects key assets at the Springfield Campus with the University of Wolverhampton Science Park and further north to i54, introducing new development opportunities and incubation space, with a focus on construction, computing and engineering.
It is a key pillar of the West Midlands Investment Zone and has secured £7million funding from Investment Zone status and £20million direct from Government.
Meanwhile, South Staffordshire is leveraging major infrastructure projects like the £1billion West Midlands Interchange, M54/M6 link road, and Indurent’s site at junction 13 of the M6 and Logic 54.
The Central Edge has been developed following a feasibility study, agreed at last year’s UKREiiF, into a proposed economic growth zone.
It includes 16.4million sq ft of prime innovation development land, the opportunity for a combined £582million in GVA and the creation of 14,700 jobs, plus access to 155,000 STEM course graduates from 12 Midlands universities – all within an hour of Wolverhampton.
Partners such as the University of Wolverhampton, Logistics Capital Partners and Indurent will also help secure further investment into The Central Edge from investors, developers, government and occupiers.
South Staffordshire Council Corporate Director Place and Communities, Annette Roberts, said: "South Staffordshire Council are delighted to be at UKREiiF promoting The Central Edge, located in thriving South Staffordshire and Wolverhampton.
"This project will be a huge boost to the local and regional economy building on the success of i54 and furthering innovation in the green economy, advanced manufacturing and logistics, creating sustainable growth and quality jobs for our communities, and supporting business.”
Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: "Central Edge will be a transformational economic growth zone across Wolverhampton and Staffordshire.
"It is a once in a generation proposition building on the success of the UK’s most successful enterprise zone, i54.
"Our vision for growth in green innovation and advanced manufacturing encompasses the multitude and breadth of opportunities across this new economic growth zone.
"The Central Edge will be an international exemplar area for innovation, green economy, advanced manufacturing and logistics, delivering good transformative growth at scale and pace and creating thousands of jobs.”
Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council’s new Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: "Growing the economy and creating good jobs for local people is a key priority for the new leadership and we are committed to working with partners to deliver real benefits for businesses and residents.”
Efforts will further be supported by the newly launched Invest Staffordshire, which is part of the Staffordshire Investment Agency, and Invest Wolverhampton.
Find out more at: http://www.TheCentralEdge.co.uk