Plans for the West Midlands to lead the UK in clean, green, technology-driven manufacturing have taken a major step forward with a £7 million investment to launch
Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor (GIC). The funding, approved at a meeting of the region’s Investment Zone Board chaired by Mayor Richard Parker earlier this month, will prepare four brownfield sites for development. Known collectively as Six Mile Green, the sites are located close to the University of Wolverhampton Science Park and will form the heart of the GIC.
Once complete, the development is expected to create up to 600 high-quality jobs and apprenticeships in clean-tech, sustainable construction, cyber security, and green manufacturing and engineering. Advanced manufacturing is one of the high-growth sectors identified in the Mayor’s Growth Plan as key to driving the regional economy and generating thousands of skilled, well-paid jobs.
Mayor Parker said: “Manufacturing remains at the heart of the West Midlands economy, but what we make, and how we make it, is evolving fast. Just as Watt and Boulton powered the first Industrial Revolution two centuries ago, the investments we’re making now will help our region drive the next one. My Growth Plan sets out our vision for an ambitious, resilient West Midlands economy that is fit for the future. The Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor will be at the cutting edge of sustainable, tech-led manufacturing, helping position our region as the best place for forward-looking businesses to invest and innovate.”
The GIC is being delivered by City of Wolverhampton Council and the University of Wolverhampton, linking key assets at the university’s Springfield Campus, Science Park, and the i54 advanced manufacturing business park. The clean-up of the four sites, funded through the Investment Zone programme, is expected to attract more than £22 million of investment into the city. Construction of 12,000m
2 of innovation and commercial space will create or support a further 100 jobs, providing facilities for start-ups, growing companies, and established firms.
Transformative regeneration projectsCouncillor Chris Burden, cabinet member for city development, jobs and skills, said: “The council and university have an extensive track record of working together with developers and investors to deliver transformative regeneration projects and we are already in active discussions with businesses seeking to locate at GIC and be part of a community of innovators. GIC will drive the ‘green industrial revolution’, building upon Wolverhampton’s sustainable construction, ‘green’ credentials and circular economy for transformation that will create quality jobs and training opportunities for local people.”
Dr Pete Cross, chief operating officer at the
University of Wolverhampton, added: “The Green Innovation Corridor demonstrates how collaboration across the West Midlands makes our region a powerful contributor to the UK’s transition to net zero. By working with partners and industry and expanding our world-class teaching and research facilities, we are creating the conditions for businesses to thrive, bringing investment, high-quality jobs and apprenticeships to Wolverhampton.”
The West Midlands Investment Zone, led by the Combined Authority, covers the entire region and is anchored by three sites: Wolverhampton’s GIC, Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter, and the Coventry and Warwick Investment Zone. Together, they are expected to deliver 30,000 jobs and £5.5 billion of investment, with £1.5 billion in business rates retained locally over 25 years.
Funding has already been confirmed for the Coventry and Warwick site, which will host Greenpower Park, the UK’s Centre for Electrification and Clean Energy, creating up to 6,000 jobs in battery manufacturing and associated supply chains. Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter will focus on health, med-tech and digital industries, with a recent partnership between Woodbourne Group and global investor Hines potentially bringing £400 million into the region.
Investment Zone funding will also support supply chain transition programmes, equity funds for early-stage businesses, and skills training to ensure local people benefit from the new opportunities.