City's 'green innovation corridor' gets go-ahead

Planning permission has been granted for work to get under way on the first phase of a city's "green innovation corridor" (GIC).

Four brownfield sites, designated as a West Midlands Investment Zone, will be redeveloped to "attract investment and create jobs focused on green construction, engineering, and digital technologies", City of Wolverhampton Council said.

The corridor will connect the University of Wolverhampton's Springfield campus, Science Park, and the i54 advanced manufacturing business park.

Up to £27m in government has been secured and £7m investment zone funding will be used to prepare the site, known as Six Mile Green (SMG), by March 2027.

When it is completed, SMG will host up to 600 high-quality jobs and apprenticeships in clean-tech, sustainable construction, cyber security, and green manufacturing and engineering, the city council said.

Councillor Chris Burden said: "The council and university have an extensive track record of working together with developers and investors to deliver transformative regeneration projects.

"We are already in active discussions with businesses seeking to locate at GIC and be part of a community of innovators and planning approval now gives us the opportunity to progress those conversations and bring the Six Mile Green site forward as the first phase."

Dr Pete Cross, University of Wolverhampton chief operating officer, said the planning approval "marked an important milestone".

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