A landmark commercial office development could bring more than 5,000 jobs to the Midlands after receiving the go-ahead from Solihull planners.

British Land - which owns the Blythe Valley Business Park, off Junction 4 of the M42 - has been granted permission from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to build up a second phase of the development creating 800,000 sq ft high quality office space.

The new #200 million phase in the business park's development will be surrounded by 14 hectares of country parkland.

The award-winning business park already employs more than 3,000 people and combines 625,000 sq ft of high specification office space with 170 acres of natural parkland.

Robert Samuel, of British Land, said: "Blythe Valley Business Park is already considered to be one of the UK's leading business locations which has helped to bring significant investment to the local area and the West Midlands. The next phase in development for the site will build on that success by creating more high quality office space and providing thousands of new jobs.

"We will also concentrate on maintaining the sustainable principles that have made the park so unique by developing a further 14 hectares of new country parkland.

"It is an exciting new step for BVP and we expect the next phase to follow on from its initial success."

Businesses already based at the site include Regus, UK Athletics, Virgin and British Gas.

Lynda Hackwell, head of community & economic regeneration at SMBC - which is a partner in park - said: "Blythe Valley Park is an important part of Solihull's offer as a business location.

"The park has already attracted many well known businesses.

"The second phase will build on this success, providing a fantastic opportunity for British Land and Solihull."