A disused warehouse and distribution depot in Birmingham has been bought up by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands as part of a £4 million transformation project which could create up to 250 jobs.
The five-acre former furniture distribution centre on the BSA Industrial Estate off Golden Hillock Road and Armoury Road in Small Heath has been vacant for more than two years.
Through the East Birmingham North Solihull Regeneration Zone, the site will be remediated and sold back to the private sector for employment use. Several manufacturing firms are thought to be interested in the location, which could be ready to house a company within 12 months.
The acquisition, from a holding company in the Channel Islands, is the second in a series of purchases to develop employment land in the Zone across Nechells, Small Heath and Tyseley as part of a £20 million regeneration programme.
Advantage West Midlands has already brought the former steel works in Wharfdale Road, Tyseley, into public ownership.
Each of the sites will be remediated and, in some cases, put together with other sites to make them more attractive to the commercial market.
Mark Pearce, Advantage West Midlands Corporate Director for Economic Regeneration, said: "We know from talking to the private sector that the limited availability of quality, accessible and clean employment land of sufficient size is a barrier to economic growth in this part of the city. Potential investors into the communities that need investment the most are finding it increasingly difficult to find the right premises.
"The Golden Hillock Road site is in an excellent location, close to both the A45 and Small Heath station but had not been taken on by the private sector.
"With Small Heath a high-priority for regeneration from Birmingham City Council through the Stratford Road Corridor proposals, it is important that we secure this site and make sure it is used to its full potential."
AWM has identified 14 other sites across east Birmingham which are currently vacant or underused. If returned to full employment use, the sites could generate around 1,000 jobs.
