Detailed plans for first buildings at Peddimore employment park unveiled

Detailed plans for first buildings at Peddimore employment park unveiled

Proposals for the first two buildings at Peddimore, the new, high-quality employment park in Minworth, have been unveiled as part of a consultation about the site which is set to become one of the region’s most important economic assets.

IM Properties (IMP), Birmingham City Council’s appointed development partner for the first phase of the scheme, is preparing detailed planning applications for the first two employment buildings at the strategic site.

The company is in advanced negotiations with a first prospective occupier who would create in excess of 1,000 full time jobs and help support economic recovery for Royal Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham.

IMP is currently working with the occupier to design and deliver a high-quality building that meets its specific requirements.

A second building to be located at the gateway into the site from the A38 could accommodate either manufacturing or logistics businesses and has the potential to create a further 470 full time jobs.

Planning permission for Peddimore was granted in September 2019 and IMP is now carrying out further focused technical work to reflect the nature of the site’s initial buildings and their potential environmental impact during construction and operational phases.

Proposals for the two buildings will be presented to the local community through a virtual consultation with visitors able to take a 360 tour of the site and provide their feedback.

David Smith, planning director at IM Properties said: “Having a major prospective occupier for the first building will help accelerate delivery of the site and put it on the map. We consider this especially significant because of the challenges of Covid-19 and the critical importance of attracting investment, creating jobs, and supporting the economic and social recovery of the region.

“We believe that Peddimore must deliver benefits beyond its site boundaries; it must deliver a social return on investment and create a positive legacy for years to come. Our social value commitments are therefore wide-ranging. They are deliberately designed to challenge both us and our social value and supply chain partners. We have already made positive progress in supporting and funding community projects, and significant preparatory work is being put in place to ensure the project can realise its employment and skills commitments.”

Both buildings will be located within Development Zone 1 which already has planning permission. The purpose of the upcoming applications is to agree the detailed layout and design of the two buildings, including access points, parking plans, landscaping and drainage.

IMP is committed to reducing carbon by 36% across the Zone 1 development. The buildings will be designed to support a range of innovative sustainability measures including ‘smart grid’ technology; combining roof mounted PV cells and battery technology to generate renewable energy on site and maximising its use within the building to reduce reliance on the national grid.

Peddimore will be built to a high level of building design and include substantial and attractive landscaping, including 4km of pedestrian and cycle paths. It will promote walking and cycling to minimise impact on local roads and improve air quality and accessibility to the site through a new Green Travel District.

IMP is already delivering an extensive social value programme, which will accelerate with the start of construction. This will provide benefits for the local supply chain during construction and a positive long-term legacy for future generations, through working with local training providers and schools, providing access to the wide range of jobs on offer, and helping disadvantaged people in finding work.

The consultation will run from Tuesday 16 February to Sunday 7 March. IMP will consider all feedback before it submits the planning applications to Birmingham City Council in the spring.