Public consultation is underway on joint City of Wolverhampton Council and University of Wolverhampton proposals for the first phase of the city’s pioneering Green Innovation Corridor (GIC).
The GIC will connect key assets at the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus, Science Park, and the i54 advanced manufacturing business park – the country’s most successful Enterprise Zone.
It will introduce new commercial and business opportunities for development, incubation space, grow-on space for SMEs and space for larger use.
The scheme has already secured £27million funding from UK Government and has attained West Midlands Investment Zone status, helping unlock transformational capital funding, business support and skills programmes.
People can now have their say on designs for the first phase – the planned redevelopment of four brownfield sites, collectively known as Six Mile Green, located close to the University of Wolverhampton Science Park.
An online survey is available at https://consultation.wolverhampton.gov.uk/planning/six-mile-green until August 1, 2025.
An exhibition at University of Wolverhampton Science Park will also be running from Monday, July 28 to Friday, August 1, and a public drop-in event at the Science Park is being hosted by the project team on Wednesday, July 30, between 4pm and 8pm.
Once feedback from the consultation has been taken into consideration, a hybrid planning application will be submitted, comprising detailed plans for ground remediation, site clearance, service infrastructure and enabling works and outline plans for new buildings providing around 20,000sqm of mixed use commercial floorspace.
If the plans are approved, then WM Investment Zone funding will be used to carry out preconstruction works by March 2027, which will support prospective developers by providing development-ready sites for design and build construction.
Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “The Green Innovation Corridor will drive the Green Industrial Revolution, building upon Wolverhampton’s sustainable construction, green credentials and circular economy for transformation that will create quality jobs for local people.
“Bringing forward these designs for consultation is the next step towards our goal of securing the planning permission for Six Mile Green that will facilitate enabling works and ultimately attract developer interest.”
Pete Cross, Chief Operating Officer, University of Wolverhampton said, "The University of Wolverhampton is proud to be a key partner in the Green Innovation Corridor, which will act as a catalyst for innovation, skills development, and economic prosperity.
“We are working closely with our colleagues at the City of Wolverhampton Council to develop an exciting and ambitious business community that will drive growth in green technologies and advanced manufacturing, directly contributing to the net zero agenda and creating high-value jobs for our communities.
“The proposals outline the development of our existing sites across the Science Park, Springfield Campus and Six-Mile Green and we look forward to working with external investors and developers to put these plans into motion."
