Economic zone plan hopes to create 15,000 jobs

Bosses say the existing i54 business park, located at Junction 2 of the M54 motorway, is the UK's most successful enterprise zone

A planned enterprise zone in Wolverhampton and south Staffordshire specialising in advanced manufacturing and green technology could create nearly 15,000 jobs, councils say.

It is hoped the scheme - being developed by three local authorities – will bring almost £600m to the area.

City of Wolverhampton Council, Staffordshire County Council and South Staffordshire Council said The Central Edge "economic growth zone" would expand on the existing i54 business park on the Wolverhampton/Staffordshire border.

The scheme also has involvement from 12 universities in the Midlands region.

It is due to consist of Wolverhampton's Green Innovation Corridor (GIC) as well as advanced manufacturing locations in south Staffordshire.

Councillor Chris Burden, from City of Wolverhampton Council, said Central Edge would be "a transformational economic growth zone".

"It is a once-in-a-generation proposition building on the success of the UK's most successful enterprise zone, i54," he said.

Martin Murray, Staffordshire County Council's new deputy leader said growing the local economy and creating good jobs was a key priority for the new leadership.

Bosses said the new zone would include 16.4m sq ft (1.5 sq m) of development land, a possible £582m in gross value added and the creation of 14,700 jobs.

It would also help provide access to 155,000 science, technology, engineering and maths courses within an hour of Wolverhampton, they added.