The Black Country is set to benefit from a multi-million investment to bring forward a new business zone.

Wilson Bowden Developments have just completed the first phase of its Bentley Bridge scheme, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton with five units of between 4,990 sq ft and 8,000 sq ft.

DTZ and King Sturge’s Birmingham-based shed teams have been brought in to market the business park and just over 30,000 sq ft is currently available.

“It has been many years since the Black Country Development Corporation first realised the potential of the Bentley Bridge area, becoming one of the area’s new hot-spots,” said DTZ Director, Simon Lloyd. “At the time, many people thought Wolverhampton would be able to cope with future demand from businesses for new space, but BCDC were far-sighted in their realisation that new sub-regional urban centres would be needed.”

Other former industrial areas around Wednesfield, notably Bowmans Harbour, have been successfully regenerated, and Bentley Bridge has become an established location for retail and leisure uses. However, WBD’s medium-term plans for the site, in Wednesfield’s Well Lane, are far more ambitious.

WBD’s plans remain flexible, but the most likely second phase is for a quality warehouse or distribution complex, designed and built to occupier’s individual specifications.

“They bought 6.5 acres of land, with the intention to make it a landmark location. It’s taken some time and considerable investment to bring the scheme forward, but the ultimate aim is to put 130,000 sq ft of space here,” said King Sturge Partner, Carl Durrant.

“There are always many Black Country SMEs who have to consider moving elsewhere, because of the shortage of new distribution and warehousing space. I know there is also a significant number of larger companies looking to expand, but whilst retaining their local workforce, and I’m sure they’ll want to consider our ‘design and build’ phase.”