Regeneration Plans move closer to reality
Exciting multi-million pound regeneration investments planned
for Kidderminster and the Wyre Forest District were unveiled at
this year's Autumn ReWyre Conference held on Friday 4th
November 2011.
Over eighty delegates attended the event, including Councillors,
Business Leaders and other stakeholders, to hear progress on the
ReWyre Initiative and key projects. Four schemes were showcased in
four rooms at the event held at Spring Grove House in the grounds
of West Midland Safari Park.
The event follows a commitment from the Communities Secretary,
Eric Pickles MP, who last month offered his full support for the
South Kidderminster Enterprise Park proposals following a meeting
with Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The big announcement of the afternoon was the news that the
Piano Building at Weavers Wharf will be transformed into an
exciting new academy to provide education and training
opportunities to young people and support local businesses. The
facility will be delivered through a partnership between Birmingham
Metropolitan College and Kidderminster College as part of a major
£6.1million development announced as part of the ReWyre conference.
The academy is due to open in September 2012 and will be the first
in a series of major regeneration projects to be realised.
Councillor John Campion, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council,
and ReWyre Board Member said: "This is just the type of innovative
development that we are supporting and encouraging through the
ReWyre Initiative."
Other plans unveiled at the conference include proposals for the
former British Sugar site in Kidderminster, where a first phase
will deliver new homes, jobs and an access road to open up the
largest brownfield regeneration site west of Birmingham. The owners
of the site, St Francis Group, will be holding a consultation event
for local residents from 18th to 19th November at Foley Park
Primary School in Northumberland Avenue where they will explain
their plans to kick start development at the site. Andy Pant, St
Francis Group stated that "this is a unique opportunity to unlock
and reconnect Wyre Forests largest brownfield site and in doing so
create real potential to benefit the local community and the wider
area both economically and in the creation of an attractive place
to live and work."
Meanwhile, the West Midland Safari Park is seeking feedback on a
draft development brief and master plan for their site which looks
set to include a major hotel, waterpark and conference facility as
part of a multi-million pound uplift to be phased in over the next
10 years. This comes as a brand new Travelodge nears
completion in Park Lane, Kidderminster and Whitbread are developing
a Premier Inn on the upper floors of Slingfield Mill at Weavers
Wharf. Councillor Campion explained,
"We want Wyre Forest to be at the centre of a world class
tourism destination and the proposals to strengthen the Safari Park
will provide a major opportunity to help deliver that vision."
As part of the District Council's commitment to the
Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, the authority also
unveiled proposals for simplified planning in the South
Kidderminster Enterprise Park. This extensive 200 hectare business
park includes all of the established employment areas of South
Kidderminster including the premises and estates off Worcester Road
and Stourport Road and also the cleared sites including the former
British Sugar and Romwire sites.
Tony Hyde, Chairman of the ReWyre Board and MD of Thomas Vale
Construction, confirmed that the Board of private and public sector
leaders is fully committed to driving forward the positive
regeneration of the district. He said,
"As business leaders we have been bringing our knowledge and
experiences to challenge and help move the programme towards an
exciting delivery phase. The fact that these plans are being
advanced in the current climate is real testament to the confidence
and enthusiasm being shown by investors keen to develop in the
district."
Date of issue - 10th November 2011