£580m Central Edge economic growth zone announced

The University of Wolverhampton has welcomed the unveiling of The Central Edge economic growth zone, a transformative £580 million development programme spanning Wolverhampton and Staffordshire. The initiative, announced at UKREiiF by City of Wolverhampton Council, Staffordshire County Council, and South Staffordshire Council, promises significant opportunities for economic growth and job creation in the region.

The Central Edge strategically unites Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor (GIC) with key logistics and advanced manufacturing locations in South Staffordshire, building upon the proven success of the advanced manufacturing hub at i54. The GIC, a vital component of this vision, will connect the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus with its Science Park and extend northwards to i54. This corridor will foster new development opportunities and incubation spaces, with a strong emphasis on green construction, computing, and engineering – crucial elements in supporting the advanced manufacturing sector's transition to net zero.

The Central Edge programme is projected to generate a Growth Value Added of £582 million and encompasses a substantial 16.4 million sq ft of development land, with the potential to create an estimated 14,700 jobs.

Ceri Jones, Director of Research & Innovation at the University of Wolverhampton, commented: "The launch of The Central Edge is a momentous occasion for Wolverhampton and the wider region. The University of Wolverhampton is proud to be a key partner in the Green Innovation Corridor, which will act as a catalyst for innovation, skills development, and economic prosperity. By connecting our Springfield Campus and Science Park with i54, we are creating a dynamic ecosystem that will drive growth in green technologies and advanced manufacturing, directly contributing to the net-zero agenda and creating high-value jobs for our communities."

The University of Wolverhampton is identified as a crucial partner in attracting further investment into The Central Edge, alongside other key stakeholders such as Logistics Capital Partners and developer Indurent. The established success of i54, which has already attracted £1 billion in investment and houses major players like Jaguar Land Rover and Moog, provides a strong foundation for this new economic growth zone.

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, and the University’s support as a key partner in this joint venture will help us deliver positive results.

“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.”

The Green Innovation Corridor’s focus on aligning with the University’s strengths in green construction, computing, and engineering is expected to create significant opportunities for research, development, and graduate employment within the region.

Find out more at: www.TheCentralEdge.co.uk

Notes:

1/ UKREiiF is The UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum brings together more than 16,000 professionals from national and local government, investors, developers, end-users and the wider built environment industry.