WMI was granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) in May 2020. A DCO is the means of obtaining permission to construct and maintain developments categorised as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), such as WMI.

While WMI has been granted consent, there are still specific aspects of the project which are subject to planning permission. This is to ensure that WMI is delivered in a responsible and sustainable way.

What did WMI submit for planning permission?

Details of the design and construction of a rail-served warehouse with 45,615sqm of floorspace adjacent to Vicarage Road, known as Plot 3010.

Who did WMI submit this planning application to?

We are submitting this application to South Staffordshire District Council.

Was planning permission granted?

Yes, South Staffordshire District Council granted us permission to build the Plot 3010 warehouse.

However, before businesses can move into our new warehouses, we need to agree with the council how vehicles will access the site, what HGV parking and driver facilities there will be, and what car and motorcycle parking and EV charging facilities will be provided.

We will also need to agree our Green Infrastructure Plan, which outlines our landscaping approach to the site.

Will there be increased traffic as a result of Plot 3010 being built?

We’re working to minimise any disruptions by working with our contractors to develop a traffic management plan. The plan will include prescribed traffic routes our vehicles will be using during the construction period. We will share the details of the plan on our website as soon as it has been established. 

Will this planning application have an impact on the construction programme?

We do not anticipate there to be any delays to the construction programme because of this planning application.

Will there be job opportunities created following this application being approved?

Yes. There will be many jobs available in the area during construction and, when the site becomes operational, we expect it to be an important local employment site.

Logistics Capital Partners have set up an Employment Fund Steering Group, which is a collaboration with the City of Wolverhampton Council, South Staffordshire Council and Staffordshire County Council. It has been created to maximise opportunities for local people who can then find employment in construction and operational jobs, once businesses move in.

Working with Staffordshire County Council we have also appointed a dedicated Employment Broker, whose remit is ensuring that local people can access job vacancies on site. This includes verifying that the construction contractors and eventual operators of the WMI site have appropriate plans in place to employ local people.

How are you keeping people updated?

We will be directly contacting residents with details of how they can contact the WMI team by post and we will be regularly updating our website with developments on the site. We are also in the process of creating social media accounts which will provide live updates.

How can I find out more about this planning application, other planning applications, and WMI more generally?

You can sign up to receive our project e-newsletter by contacting our Community Relations Team:

Email: contactus@communityrelations.co.uk

Telephone: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm on our freephone number 0800 377 7345