Wolverhampton set to ‘kick start’ Six Mile Green with £4m contract

Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor project is set to move forward next week, as the council begins its search for a contractor to complete early phase works.

The GIC is a £27m regeneration project connecting sites at the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus, University of Wolverhampton Science Park, and the i54 advanced manufacturing business park as part of a plan to create a “world-leading” green-tech research and development cluster.

Planning permission for Six Mile Green, a key site on the development containing four linked brownfield plots near the university’s science park, was granted in January.

Almost 130,000 sq ft of business space could be created by the project, which the local authority hopes will encourage green industries, advanced manufacturing, and R&D operations to set up shop in the city.

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Next week, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet will meet to approve plans to tender for a £4m contract to complete enabling works to make the plots “more attractive” to would-be developers.

If approved, the authority will appoint a single contractor to complete demolition, clearance and remediation at the site, expected to last around eight months.

Work is scheduled to begin in January.

“These pre-construction works are focussed on getting the plots ready for development by investing capital into ground works and minimising barriers to development,” said a paper due to go before councillors on 14 October.

“The ambition is to make the plots more attractive to a developer and attract market interest in order to take the Six Mile Green project into the construction delivery stage.”

The GIC project, a joint initiative by the City of Wolverhampton Council and the University of Wolverhampton, has secured funding from the UK Government and the West Midlands Combined Authority and attained West Midlands Investment Zone status in a bid to attract investment and create jobs.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said: “The appointment of a contractor for the enabling works will kick-start the Green Innovation Corridor development at Six Mile Green.

“It will support the work of the council and university in securing businesses seeking to locate in the GIC and be part of a community of innovators.

“The Green Innovation Corridor will build upon Wolverhampton’s sustainable construction, green credentials and circular economy for transformation that will create quality jobs and training opportunities for local people.”