AROUND 100 new skilled jobs will be created on Longbridge Business Park after a deal was struck with Waters Corporation.
The global company, which produces speciality measurement equipment and employs more than 7,000 people worldwide, has signed an agreement to purchase its new Longbridge technology centre currently being developed by St Modwen.
The area is rapidly gaining a reputation for being a specialist centre for science, technology, medicine, precision engineering and R&D sectors.
Leading businesses such as Bytesnap and Mark3d are already based in Longbridge, and with IVC Evidensia well on its way to completion, all are helping to support and grow the local economy.
Construction work on the Waters building will start early this year with the specialist centre scheduled to open in 2024.
Waters will move from its existing premises in Shirley, Solihull, and the new centre will deliver a 300 per cent increase in operational space for rapid prototyping and increased experimentation activity in areas such as pharmaceuticals and forensics.
St Modwen’s development director Elliot Sellars said: “This exciting new scientific base for Waters will bring further specialist expertise to Longbridge.
“As the entire Longbridge regeneration continues it is encouraging to see industry leading businesses choosing this developing location as their base for operations.”
He added it was good news for the local and regional economies and would ensure St Modwen’s work would benefit the area for many years to come.
When completed, the whole Longbridge Business Park, which has benefited from infrastructure investment in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will create 5,000 new jobs.
Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said it was another significant milestone for Longbridge and its regeneration.
“I’m pleased that the WMCA has been able to support the rejuvenation of Longbridge and I look forward to further exciting developments soon.”
This latest development is part of the £1bn Longbridge masterplan which, as well as the business park, will also see a residential neighbourhood of 350 homes created.
