I54
Encyclopedia
i54 is a 220 acre site at Wobaston Road, Pendeford
, on the boundary of South Staffordshire
and Wolverhampton
which is under development for a technology
-based business park.
The site is on the northern side of Wobaston Road, just to the west of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
with the M54 motorway
running across the northern part of the site and was previously used as sewage treatment site.
The regeneration project is a flagship joint venture between Advantage West Midlands
and Wolverhampton
City Council with the support of South Staffordshire Council.
In August 2006 contractors to the site started the second major phase of the scheme, a £5 million GBP 12 month programme of infrastructure and reclamation work.
On Tuesday 3 July 2007 key partners for the project toasted the substantial completion of a £10 million GBP programme of remmediation and site preparation works on the i54 site. The site preparation work ran over a 16 month period and has been carried out by Blackwell and supervised by Mouchel Parkman engineering consultancy. During this time the following was achieved:
Other statistics include:
expressed an interest in the i54 site as a possible location for a new engine plant. On 19th September 2011 Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
announced at the engine factory in Solihull the proposals for Jaguar Land Rover's decision to build their new engine plant in Wolverhampton
creating around 750 additional jobs within the company and more within the supply chain which will be created by a £355 million investment by Jaguar Land Rover and £10m by the Government. The new plant in Wolverhampton will join other Midlands based plants in Solihull and Castle Bromwich as well as the birth place of the new Evoque in Halewood, Liverpool.
It is understood that Jaguar Land Rover are taking on the investments to meet the demands of high sales in Asia. The new engine plant will be home to the new family of 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines for the luxury Land Rover
brand, originally brought to help boost technology in Tata Motors
vehicle range. JLR chief executive Dr Ralf Speth announced that £1.5 billion is to be invested into the company and the new engine plant each year for the next 5 years on product development and the engine range. JLR engines are currently being supplied by Ford Motors
has also agreed to move to the development.
Pendeford
Pendeford is a suburb of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. It is situated NNW of the city centre, adjacent to the border with Staffordshire, within the Oxley ward of Wolverhampton City Council.- Name and origins :...
, on the boundary of South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. The district lies to the north and west of Wolverhampton and the West Midlands, bordering Shropshire to the west and Worcestershire to the south...
and Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
which is under development for a technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
-based business park.
The site is on the northern side of Wobaston Road, just to the west of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is a narrow navigable canal in the English Midlands, passing through the counties of Staffordshire and Worcestershire....
with the M54 motorway
M54 motorway
The M54 is a 23 mile east-west motorway in the English counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire. It is also referred to as the Telford Motorway, after the road's primary westbound destination, the new town of Telford...
running across the northern part of the site and was previously used as sewage treatment site.
The aim
The aim of this site is to deliver major employment opportunities and maximise job creation potential in key industries. It will also play a key role in the diversification and growth of the regional economy. It is also believed that i54 will achieve high standards of sustainability.The regeneration project is a flagship joint venture between Advantage West Midlands
Advantage West Midlands
-Advantage West Midlands – Regional Development Agency:Advantage West Midlands was established in 1999 as one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England. RDAs were created by the UK Government to drive sustainable economic development and social and physical regeneration through a...
and Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
City Council with the support of South Staffordshire Council.
Project costs and details
The cost of the project to the 98 hectare site is estimated to be costing £67 million GBP and was granted crucial planning approvals from two local authorities in September 2006.In August 2006 contractors to the site started the second major phase of the scheme, a £5 million GBP 12 month programme of infrastructure and reclamation work.
On Tuesday 3 July 2007 key partners for the project toasted the substantial completion of a £10 million GBP programme of remmediation and site preparation works on the i54 site. The site preparation work ran over a 16 month period and has been carried out by Blackwell and supervised by Mouchel Parkman engineering consultancy. During this time the following was achieved:
- Produced level development plots
- Installation of primary infrastructure including a spine road
- Drainage Systems
- Site fencing
- Creation of new wetland and ecological habitats
Other statistics include:
- 152,000 cubic meters of topsoil has been excavated but retained on site.
- 190,000 cubic meters of sub-soil and rock excavated and reused on site.
- 1 kilometre spine road constructed
- 4.5 kilometres of fencing erected (3 kilometres still to be erected)
- Total of 6,500 cubic metres of ponds and swales created as part of the landscaping
Jaguar Land Rover
On 25th April 2011, Jaguar Land RoverJaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is a British automotive company owned by Tata Motors of India. It develops, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Jaguar and Land Rover marques.-History:...
expressed an interest in the i54 site as a possible location for a new engine plant. On 19th September 2011 Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
announced at the engine factory in Solihull the proposals for Jaguar Land Rover's decision to build their new engine plant in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
creating around 750 additional jobs within the company and more within the supply chain which will be created by a £355 million investment by Jaguar Land Rover and £10m by the Government. The new plant in Wolverhampton will join other Midlands based plants in Solihull and Castle Bromwich as well as the birth place of the new Evoque in Halewood, Liverpool.
It is understood that Jaguar Land Rover are taking on the investments to meet the demands of high sales in Asia. The new engine plant will be home to the new family of 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines for the luxury Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
brand, originally brought to help boost technology in Tata Motors
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. Part of the Tata Group, it was formerly known as TELCO...
vehicle range. JLR chief executive Dr Ralf Speth announced that £1.5 billion is to be invested into the company and the new engine plant each year for the next 5 years on product development and the engine range. JLR engines are currently being supplied by Ford Motors
Usage potential
- Around 2000000 square feet (185,806.1 m²) of industrial space of commercial/retail and leisure.
Construction
Construction has now started on site, with work now underway for MOOG. The Aerospace company that makes flight controls is spending £15 million to move from its current location, to the i54 development in Wolverhampton. The company hopes to safeguard 400 jobs with its relocation, and expect the new facility to be open by September 2012. Also a laboratory firm by the name of EurofinsEurofins Scientific
Eurofins is an international group of laboratories providing testing and support services to the pharmaceutical, food, environmental and consumer products industries and to governments...
has also agreed to move to the development.