Thousands of local jobs being created by new construction and investment

The regeneration of the former Coventry site of a leading aerospace company is gathering pace following an £8.8m investment by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

The site, off Holbrook Lane, had been home to Meggitt until the company, whose customers include aviation giants Airbus, BAE and Boeing, started moving operations and staff to new headquarters in nearby Ansty two years ago.

Now, more than five acres of the former Meggitt Facility is being transformed, thanks to WMCA investment, with the construction of the new Holbrook Business Park which is expected to generate around 200 jobs when completed.

Mark Garrity, Chancerygate development director and head of the company’s Birmingham office, said: “We are very pleased that work is underway at Holbrook Business Park. The initial phase of a high-quality urban logistics development will support the strong demand for industrial space in the West Midlands.

“We look forward to delivering a scheme that will serve the needs of businesses in the region, as well as create new jobs.”

The Holbrook Lane deal follows a series of landmark funding commitments over recent months for the regeneration of derelict industrial land, often referred to as ‘brownfield’, and is part of the WMCA’s trailblazing brownfield regeneration programme.

This includes an integrated approach for urban regeneration and ensures good design is embedded on all its projects through the WMCA design charter launched last year.

The Chancerygate scheme, which will feature 17 light industrial units, sits on one part of the 65-acre former Meggitt site. Planning permission was granted earlier this year for 500 new homes on another part of the site.

Cllr Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio holder for housing and land and leader of Walsall Council, added:

“This commitment from the WMCA is helping to encourage new construction and investment in the West Midlands which had been the UK’s fastest growing region before the pandemic struck and has been hit harder economically than many others over the last 18 months.

“The rate of investment we are now seeing across the region shows that our recovery is now well underway and the WMCA will continue to invest in this way to help drive new homes and jobs.”