In a post Brexit and Covid climate, and supporting a levelling up agenda, the £1bn WMI project anchors huge international investment in the region, and a new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange
The project spans 734 acres and will deliver c.8 million sq ft of prime logistics space
The project will generate around £430m annually in local economic activity (and over £900m nationally via the supply chain - £680m in direct/indirect gross value added)
WMI will create 8,500 direct, full-time jobs (40% of which will be higher skilled, offering opportunities for people in South Staffordshire, The Black Country, the West Midlands)
It will support a further 8,100 indirect and induced jobs via the supply chain
The project will create two new country parks spanning 109 acres
It will contribute to regional and national air quality and carbon reduction targets, as rail freight produces 76% less carbon dioxide, up to 15 times lower nitrogen oxide emissions and nearly 90% lower particulate emissions than road freight
WMI is in South Staffordshire sitting either side of a branch of the West Coast Main Line and is bounded by the A449 to the west and the A5 to the north, where it meets the M6 at junction 12
We have been tracking this particular site for some time and are delighted to have secured the park alongside Oxford Properties. West Midlands Interchange is a fantastic opportunity to build out a uniquely positioned development scheme, allowing us to offer occupiers every possible size, scale, configuration and specification of unit with none of the usual planning delays or uncertainties often associated with schemes of this nature. We look forward to progressing first stage preparatory works and welcoming occupiers to this exciting project.
John Pagdin, Head of UK Logistics Capital Partners