Economic Zones - Birmingham · Economic Zones: Investing in Birmingham 5 Birmingham has a long history of enterprise and innovation. A priority of the Council is to capture and grow

EconomicZones

Investing in Birmingham

Published by Birmingham City Council © 2012

Economic Zones: Investing in Birmingham 3

ContentsForeword 5

Introduction 6

Invest in Birmingham: a world-class city 9

Economic Growth 13

The Six Economic Zones 15

The Birmingham Investment Package: Our Offer 18

Advanced Manufacturing Hub 24

City Centre Enterprise Zone 30

Environmental Enterprise District 34

Life Sciences Campus 38

The Food Hub 44

Longbridge ITEC Park 48

Building Birmingham: Our Ask 52

4 Economic Zones: Investing in Birmingham


Birmingham has a long history ofenterprise and innovation. A priorityof the Council is to capture andgrow that entrepreneurial spirit foran innovative, prosperous andinclusive city economy.

We start from a strongfoundation with a regional economyof £90 billion and the largestconcentration of businesses outside

London. Birmingham already hasmany advantages for investorsincluding the benefits of scale andcentral location, high qualitybusiness environments and thebespoke support offered by theBirmingham Business Hub.

With the Greater Birminghamand Solihull Local EnterprisePartnership we are building newrobust partnerships with the privatesector, universities and otherorganisations. Our City Dealpartnership with centralGovernment gives us greaterpowers to rebalance the economy.

However for us to be a trulysuccessful and competitive cityregion we need to maximise our fullpotential in areas such as LifeSciences, where we already have aleading position internationally.

Developing clusters of high-growthsectors is part of our strategy foreconomic growth.

This document articulates thisstrategy, setting out how and wherewe will support high-growth sectors.Within the city centre, the mostambitious Enterprise Zone in thecountry will drive forward thedelivery of a truly world-classbusiness and cultural centre.Elsewhere in the city, the EconomicZones encompass some of thebiggest development opportunitiesin the UK supported by majordevelopers and investors as well aswell as internationally renownedacademic and researchorganisations.

We invite you to work with theCity Council and its partners torealise the opportunities identifiedwithin this Prospectus, to benefitfrom Birmingham’s business offer,and to play your part in theprosperous future of our city.

By creating the rightenvironment forenterprise,Birmingham willattract investmentfrom high-growthcompanies, as well as nurturing itshome-grown talent.

Foreword

Councillor Sir Albert BoreLeaderBirmingham City Council

Councillor Tahir AliCabinet Member for Development,Jobs and SkillsBirmingham City Council


In changing economic times it isessential for Birmingham to focus onthe areas in which it offers acompetitive advantage. We are therefore targeting those sectors foreconomic growth to benefit the city.

This document presents a seriesof Economic Zones marrying thegrowth sectors with the city’s spatialopportunities. Located to suit therequirements of the sectors, the sixZones are:

• Advanced Manufacturing Hub• City Centre Enterprise Zone• Tyseley Environmental Enterprise

District • Longbridge ITEC Park• Life Sciences Campus • The Food Hub

Birmingham already has a lot to offerfor businesses and investors:

• £1bn Public Sector investmentcommitted across the city intransport and digital infrastructure

• £100m already committed byPublic Sector partners to unlockthe potential for economic growthin the Zones outside the citycentre

• Excellent connectivity within theUK and internationally

• A clear strategy to deliver growth

Specifically for the Economic Zoneswe have assembled an exciting andbespoke business offer to supportthe private sector to acceleratedevelopment and ease their start upor move within the city:

• Simplified planning• Access to finance• Gap funding

• Business developmentprogrammes

• Tailored training and recruitmentpackages

• The services of BusinessBirmingham

The Zones will attract £1.5bninvestment, generating in the regionof 1.8 million sqm of new floor spaceand 50,000 new jobs.

For further information, and todiscuss the opportunities presentedhere, please contact:

Planning & RegenerationBirmingham City Council0121 303 [email protected]

Marketing Birmingham0121 202 [email protected]

Birmingham’s advantages as a world class city, its central location,connectivity and access to a substantial labour force make it a locationof choice for business.

Introduction




Birmingham has an ever-increasingreputation as a vibrant and diversecity, offering world-class businessand cultural facilities and being themost attractive UK regional city forquality of life. With business costsand cost of living up to 60% belowthe south east, Birmingham is anefficient and attractive location todo business.

A High Quality BusinessEnvironmentThe largest concentration ofbusinesses outside London makesBirmingham a leading Europeanbusiness hub. The city is home to30,000 companies including almost900 international firms such asJaguar Land Rover, Kraft, Amey and

Deutsche Bank. The region playshost to 200,000 conferences and320 exhibitions every year, bringingexpertise and businessopportunities to the region.

International ConnectivityBirmingham’s position at the centreof the country and of the motorwaynetwork maximises access to supplychain, customers and labour force.Over 90% of the UK market –customers and businesses – arewithin a four hour drive of the city.Air, road and rail connectionsprovide a gateway to 400 millionpeople in the rest of Europe.

Invest in Birmingham:

a world-class cityWith a population of over a million people, and an economic outputapproaching £20 billion a year, Birmingham is the West Midlands regionalcapital and the UK’s second largest city.


Nearly £1bn of investment intransport infrastructure will provideimproved access for business aswell as ease of movement forresidents and visitors. This investment includes:

• £600m investment in New StreetStation creating a 21st centurytransport hub for Birminghamand the region accommodating1250 trains per day.

• £130m extension of the Metronetwork to New Street Station.

• £13m enhancement of businterchange within the city centre

• £200m expansion of BirminghamAirport, which already serves over140 destinations, enabling directflights to the west coast of theUSA and the Far East.

• £10m investment in superfastbroadband in the city centre,complementing an entirelydigital telecoms network.

Development of High Speed Rail(HS2) will bring Birmingham within49 minutes travelling time ofLondon, with a new station inBirmingham city centre.

People & SkillsBirmingham has the youngestpopulation of any European city(38% under 25), and one of the most

culturally diverse populations in thecountry. 1.5m people in theimmediate urban area, and 4.3mwithin a one hour drive, offer askilled labour force to supportgrowth in key sectors, with a readysupply of graduates in appropriatesubjects. In particular:

• 242,000 people employed inProfessional Services, ICT andBusiness Services.

• 6,000 creative and digitalbusinesses employ the talents of34,000 people, in the fastestgrowing creative sector in the UK.

• 300,000 people work 215companies operating acrossautomotive, rail and aerospace.

• 500 medical research companiesacross the region provide worldstandard research excellence inmedical technologies and lifesciences.

• 1m people have foreignlanguage skills – 78,000 are fluentin two or more languages.

• 132,600 people are qualified todegree level or higher.

• 18 universities within a 1 hourdrive of Birmingham provide97,000 graduates each year.

• More than £200m investment inFE and HE sectors within the city.



World-class CultureBirmingham is a vibrant, attractivecity with a growing cultural,entertainment and leisure offer – anexciting place to live and dobusiness:

• Birmingham is the most visitedEnglish city outside London forEuropean visitors – 740,000overseas visitors to the city in2010, spending £249m

• The second-highest retail spendin England, with a high qualityretail offer soon to besupplemented by the largestdepartment store outside

London following the £100minvestment by John Lewis in aflagship new store.

• £188m of investment creating thelargest public library in Europe,creating new opportunities forlearning and functional flexibilityaround new digital technologies.

• £120m investment in the ResortsWorld complex at the NECcomplementing the existing offerat the LG Arena and in the citycentre at the NIA, ICC andSymphony Hall.

• A wide range of internationallyrenowned festivals and events;ArtsFest, the biggest free arts

festival in the UK, Jazz and Dancefestivals, the largest St. Patrick’sDay parade in the UK, as well asChinese, Sikh, Hindu and Islamicfestivals reflecting the city’sdiverse communities.

• High quality sports facilities playhost to international sportingevents including test matchcricket, indoor and outdoorathletics, international tennis andPremiership football.

• Over 8,000 acres of parks andopen space, Birmingham is oneof the greenest cities in the UK.


Birmingham has a diverse economyencompassing a broad range ofmanufacturing and serviceindustries. Alongside establishedfinancial and professional servicesthere is a growing creative anddigital industries sector.Manufacturing, particularly theautomotive industry, remainsimportant to the city and isexperiencing a renewedconfidence. Emerging technologiesare driving a steady growth ofenvironmental industries, over timethis will represent an increasing partof the city’s economy.

To maximise opportunities foreconomic growth, Birmingham istargeting those sectors in which ithas established that the city has acompetitive advantage.

Financial and ProfessionalServices• contributes £4bn to Birmingham’s

economy• over 1,900 firms in the financial

services sector• 20,800 people employed in the

sector, representing 9% growthsince 2005

Creative and Digital Media• generates more than £890m for

the Birmingham economy• 6,000 firms within the city, 61 with

headquarters in Birmingham• predicted growth in digital media

of 5% per annum 2010-14

Economic Growth

Over the next 20 years Birmingham’s population is projected to growby 150,000 people bringing economic benefits to the regional and local economy.

Advanced Manufacturing • including automotive aerospace,

energy and environmentaltechnologies

• contributes £600m to the city’seconomy

• more than 760 firms alreadyrepresented in Birmingham,including 24 headquarters

• 19,000 people employed across avariety of advancedmanufacturing sub-sectors

Life Sciences• contributes £180m to the

Birmingham economy• 233 firms in the city, a 45%

increase since 2005• 1,600 people employed in

the sector

Food and Drink• has a turnover of more than

£70bn annually in the UK• is growing by 4.7% annually, and

is relatively recession-proof• sees more than £300m spent on

research and developmentannually

ITEC• major software companies in top

25 employers in the region; anumber with headquarters here

• high growth in e-commerce andbusiness process outsourcing

• UK market for IT software set togrow by more than 20% 2011-15


The Six Economic Zones

Advanced Manufacturing Hub

The Hub captures the importance ofthe advanced manufacturing sectorto the region. Based at the AstonRegional Investment Site it willprovide opportunities for thegrowing automotive supply chain aswell as other advancedmanufacturing activity.

£20m public sector investment insite assembly and accessimprovements sees a de-risked sitewith sectorally targeted benefitsoffered to the market in phases. Thefirst phase of 10.5 hectares isavailable for development.

City Centre Enterprise Zone

Birmingham city centre is the heartof the region’s financial andprofessional services sector. Theongoing transformation and growthof the city core through the Big CityPlan presents substantialopportunities for growth in thissector through developments suchas Paradise Circus and ArenaCentral. Refurbished business spaceon the fringe of the city centre inDigbeth and the Jewellery Quarteroffers particular opportunities forthe thriving creative and digitalsectors.

The Birmingham City CentreEnterprise Zone (EZ) will supportthe accelerated delivery of growthin the city centre. A range ofincentives are on offer for investorsand businesses including ratesrelief, simplified planning, digitalinfrastructure, business support andinvestment in infrastructure.

The 26 sites which make up theEZ reflect the spatial strategy for thecity centre, and present growthopportunities for those sectors thathave the greatest potential:Financial and Professional Services,ICT, Creative industries and Digitalmedia.

Six strategically important geographic areas have been identified asEconomic Zones. For these a range of measures to attract investment andpromote business growth are available.


Tyseley Environmental Enterprise District

To exploit the growth in resourcerecovery and low carbontechnologies, Tyseley is designatedas the city’s EnvironmentalEnterprise District. Proposals atTyseley Wharf and Energy Way fornew high quality business parkenvironments, along with propertyassistance programmes, willimprove the range and quality ofproperty available to business. Workwith academic institutions and localbusinesses to foster environmentaltechnologies symbiosis and theopportunities for green energysolutions supports Tyseley as aprincipal location for the low carboneconomy in Birmingham.

Life Sciences Campus

The Queen Elizabeth HospitalBirmingham and the University ofBirmingham in Edgbaston providethe focus for the clustering of

activity associated with medicaltechnologies. A Life SciencesCampus will enable these worldrenowned institutions to promotetheir reputation for medicaltechnology and provide a basis forgrowth bringing high value jobs tothe city. Within an overall Campusmasterplan, including the recentopening of the National Institute forHealth Research and launch of thenew Centre for TranslationalInflammation Research, we will workwith partners to secureopportunities for new facilities.

The Food Hub

To capture interest in the city fromthe food industry the opportunityexists to form a cluster of foodprocessing, manufacturing anddistribution businesses as a FoodHub. The requirements of thissector can be met at the former IMIsite in north Birmingham, with itsaccess to the motorway network

and availability of serviced plots forbespoke development.

Longbridge ITEC Park

Longbridge presents a uniqueopportunity for businesses requiringlarge floorplates with high-specfittings set within a new high qualitytown centre accessible by publictransport and offering a wide rangeof local facilities for staff. An ITECPark will be particularly suited to:

• Software products• IT services• Business process outsourcing • Cloud computing • Data mining• E-commerce


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For all of the opportunities outlinedin this prospectus the City Counciland its partners will work withlandowners and developers tostreamline the planning process,and develop bespoke packages ofsupport to enable developmentthat creates jobs in our EconomicZones.

The city offers access to anumber of funding streamsincluding the Greater Birminghamand Solihull Local EnterprisePartnership (LEP) Growing PlacesFund, Regional Growth Proposalsand a series of European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF)programmes for both capital worksand business development. Subject

to eligibility criteria, businesses willbe able to access financial supportfor growth, new build and extensionof premises, plant and equipment,product innovation, and workforcedevelopment.

Simplified Planning We will ensure that for all of theopportunities identified anappropriate planning framework toguide development is in place. We will seek to simplify theplanning regime, for example theuse of Local Development Orders,and reduce the requirements on developers.

We have introduced a MajorDevelopment Protocol to speed up

the determination of major planningapplications and to add certainty tothe application process.

We now determine more than80% of our planning applicationswithin the timescales set by centralGovernment and exceed theirtargets in all cases.

Gap Fundingwww.birmingham.gov.uk/erdfWhere necessary, if funding isavailable, we will explore a ‘gapfunding’ package with a developerin partnership with the relevantagencies to secure the resources.

The City Council is currentlyoperating a number of ERDF Land& Property Programmes totalling

The Birmingham Investment Package

our offerEvery business is different and requires tailored market solutions forgrowth. We will use a range of interventions to kick-start development andwith sector specific support for businesses choosing to locate in our city.




£9.75m that cover the JewelleryQuarter and Digbeth, the AdvancedManufacturing Hub in Aston andthe Tyseley EnvironmentalEnterprise District.

Access to Financewww.financebirmingham.comThrough Finance Birmingham theCity is able to offer both loanfunding and equity finance of£250k-£1m to Birmingham basedbusinesses.

Business Developmentbirmingham.gov.uk/supportforbusinessesWe support new and growingbusinesses through a range ofinitiatives. This includes the national£125m Regional Growth FundAdvanced Manufacturing SupplyChain Initiative (AMSCI) and the£8m Business DevelopmentProgramme. Both are delivered byBirmingham City Council on behalfof the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP.

A dedicated programme of supportfor business development within thecity centre will be funded throughthe Enterprise Zone.

Training and Recruitmentwww.birmingham.gov.uk/eatBirmingham City Council andBusiness Birmingham work closelywith a number of partners toprovide bespoke training andrecruitment services to meet thebusiness needs of investors.

The City’s Employment AccessTeam works directly with in-locatingand expanding businesses toidentify employers’ skill needs andto deliver, in partnership with keyagencies, bespoke recruitment and pre-employment trainingpackages. By working withdevelopers and businesses frominitial planning stages we canensure planned recruitmentcampaigns meet requirements.Providing the right staff, at the righttime, can include apprentices, rightthrough to internships and graduatelevel recruitment, drawing from the considerable talent pool of local labour.

Working in partnership with theSkills Funding Agency (SFA),Jobcentre Plus (DWP) specific

sector skills councils, and trainingproviders, we ensure the ‘EmployerOffer’ is customised to meetbusiness needs, regardless of thesize of the company or sector.

The City Council and its partnerswill utilise established links withUniversities in the region to ensurethat they continue to provide highcalibre graduates with appropriateskills and knowledge to support ourgrowth sectors.

Infrastructure and Access High quality transport access, publicrealm and communicationsinfrastructure is vital to the creationof successful business space. Wheredevelopment is constrained byinfrastructure, the City will work withstakeholders to develop solutionswhich will unlock sites fordevelopment.

The City Council and its partnershave made significant investmentin, and committed future fundingto, access improvements around theEconomic Zones. The £13m SellyOak relief road provides directaccess to the Life Sciences Campusand associated developmentopportunities. Works to the A5127Lichfield Road including a newjunction at the Advanced



Manufacturing Hub will benefit thatZone, as will the plannedimprovements to M6 Junction 6. Along term strategy is in place todeliver high quality road, pedestrianand public transport connections inLongbridge. The delivery of nearly£1bn investment in bus, rail andpedestrian infrastructure in the citycentre will benefit the EnterpriseZone in particular; in conjunctionwith the £200m airport extensionthis will also improve the city’sregional, national and internationalconnectivity. We will work withdevelopers to progress furtherimprovements required to supportthe delivery of development withinthe Zones.

The city’s digital infrastructure willbe significantly enhanced throughthe Digital Districts Programme.The Programme works withtelecommunication providers inorder to bring the next generationof ultra-fast broadband connectivity– in excess of 100mbps – to keyareas of the city to support businessgrowth. The first phase of thisprogramme will be focused onDigbeth, Eastside and the Jewellery Quarter.

Business Birminghambusinessbirmingham.comDelivered through MarketingBirmingham, Business Birminghamis the city’s official inwardinvestment programme and a singlepoint of contact for investors. Foreach project a team from relevantorganisations across the city such asproperty agents, recruitmentconsultants, public agencies anduniversities is established todevelop a comprehensive packageof support and assistance.

This includes a range of servicesfree of charge, including:

• Support with initial and moredetailed business case, includingcost comparisons, access to ourRegional Observatory researchteam and benchmarking.

• Project management throughoutthe delivery phase, contributingto various client workstreams andsupporting internal projectteams.

• Labour market advice and salarybenchmarking, practical supportwith bulk recruitment activities,e.g. assessment centre testing,

advertising and responsehandling and short-listing, PRaround recruitment campaigns.

• Confidential property searchesand viewings, introductions toproperty partners.

• PR around recruitment and thenew operation, support withlaunch events and introductionsto city leaders across private,public and academic sectors aswell as key networks and media.

• Executive and other staffrelocation support.

• Familiarisation tours andpresentations.

As cost savings are a key driver forany company considering relocationor expansion we have formulated atailor made ‘market entry’ packagewith specific subsidised rates fromour partners including:

• Free serviced officeaccommodation for up to sixmonths in a central Birminghamlocation.

• Free initial project managementtime for inward investors withaccess to a full range of audit, taxand advisory services.

• Tailor made recruitment servicesat significantly reduced cost.



Foreign Direct Investment inmanufacturing increased by 22%over the last year, reinforcing themessage that the UK has a strongmanufacturing economy. Advancedengineering and manufacturing sawa 25% increase in jobs over thesame period.

The performance of theautomotive industry is forecast toaccelerate, with an anticipatedgrowth rate of 6.9% for the period2010-15. The increasing demand onthe supply chain to support thisgrowth offers a wide range ofopportunities in the advancedmanufacturing sector, whichBirmingham is well placed tosupport. The aerospace sector willalso grow across the UK.

The Greater Birmingham andSolihull LEP actively supportsadvanced manufacturing through

AMSCI (Advanced ManufacturingSupply Chain Initiative). This £125mprogramme delivered throughBirmingham City Council, reflectsthe importance of the sector withinthe region.

Recent announcements ofinvestment by advancedmanufacturing firms have beengood news for Birmingham and theregion, creating new supply chainopportunities to be taken up byexisting and new companies.

The decisions of Jaguar LandRover to locate a brand new £355mengine plant near Wolverhampton,Aero Engine Controls (AEC) to builda new £60m aerospacemanufacturing and technologyfacility in Solihull, and acommitment from SAIC to invest£50m in production facilities at theMG Motor facility at Longbridge all

provide a real boost for the regionaleconomy.

The West Midlands already has30% of automotive jobs and 60% ofrelated R&D jobs nationally. Theregion’s universities continue tobuild on the strong automotiveheritage by producing highly skilledgraduates, with particular strengthsin automotive and aerospacetechnologies and manufacturing tomeet the existing needs of thesector, and an increasing specialismin low carbon research andemerging technologies.

Birmingham is well located forthe automotive sector, positionedcentrally among vehiclemanufacturers and suppliersproviding easy access to the largestmarket in the UK – including sevenvolume car manufacturers, eightcommercial vehicle manufacturers,

Advanced Manufacturing Hub

With high quality sites that meet the needs of the AdvancedManufacturing sector, Birmingham can nurture growing businessesand attract inward investment for the benefit of the city’s economy.



the largest number of specialistsports car manufacturers in theworld, and 19 of the world’s top 20suppliers. This offers efficiencies inthe supply chain, with reducedtransportation costs contributing tomaking the UK cheaper than otherEU locations.

LocationAn Advanced Manufacturing Hub isbeing developed on the 20 hectareAston Regional Investment Site. Thesite in north Birmingham is at thecentre of the UK motorway network.The location has good access to theA38(M), Junction 6 of the M6 and

Heartlands Parkway, and provideseasy access to the largest range ofautomotive supply chainopportunities in the UK.

OpportunityThe site is targeted for theautomotive and aerospace supplychain recognising the importance ofthis sector to the region. It ismajority owned by Birmingham CityCouncil and the Homes &Communities Agency (HCA), andwill come forward for advancedmanufacturing uses in three phasesover a 10-15 year period.

Phase 1 comprises 10.5 hectares,with plots available immediately. Itcould accommodate up to30,000sqm of new floorspace acrosstwo sites. In total the AdvancedManufacturing Hub offers theopportunity for 100,000sqm of newfloorspace, accommodatingapproximately 3,000 jobs.

Further enhancements to siteaccess are proposed, improving theoffer for manufacturing activity, andgiving the Advanced ManufacturingHub a greater presence.


Direct links with universities andcolleges are being fostered as partof this offer, with the opportunity toprovide on-site training and sharedconferencing facilities beingexplored. The City and its partnersare working throught the AdvancedManufacturing Taskforce to developsustainable pathways for training tomeet employer needs.

DeliveryThe City Council is working with theHomes & Communities Agency andother partners to bring the site tothe market on a phased basis, andto suit the needs of the AdvancedManufacturing sector. The earlyphases will be marketed by Savillsfrom September 2012, with futurephases over a number of years.

£2m of Growing Places Fundingis being used to support theacquisition of the land in Phase 1not currently in public ownershipand will also support the delivery ofaccess improvements, including anew junction. We will also work withpotential occupiers to accessEuropean and Regional fundingstreams.

The planning framework for thearea is set by the recently adoptedAston Newtown and Lozells AreaAction Plan. A Local DevelopmentOrder is being prepared ahead ofthe first phase of development –this will streamline the planningprocess for advancedmanufacturing occupiers. A compliant and viable proposalhas been developed through thesignificant work carried out to date.



Phase 1

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actively marketed. A LocalDevelopment Order will provide agreater degree of certainty and savevaluable time for investors.Improvements to the main siteaccess off Lichfield Road will beundertaken in 2014.

Future PhasesA further 9.5 hectares will bebrought forward in phases over thenext 10-15 years, following assemblyof the Priory Road and QueensRoad sites.

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Birmingham city centre is anestablished economic hub, at thecentre of an £90bn regionaleconomy and home to numeroushigh profile businesses such asDeutsche Bank and Wragge & Co.

The professional and financialservices sectors are well establishedin Birmingham, including a numberof international banks, offices of allof the ‘big four’ audit firms, andlegal firms bringing in fees of over£500m per annum. The city centreoffers a lower cost, high qualityalternative to London for firms thatwish to set up regionalheadquarters or business serviceoperations, whilst having easyaccess to London, UK and overseasmarkets.

The creative and digital mediasectors embrace a wide range ofactivities, including a number offirms that are making a splash, notjust in the city, but also further afield– from virtual world specialistsDaden, to established media firmslike Maverick and award-winningdesign agencies such as Clusta andSubstrakt.

The city centre was designatedby the Greater Birmingham andSolihull LEP as its first EZ. The EZwill accelerate the development ofthe city centre in order to createjobs, unlock regeneration and growthe city's profile as a leading globalbusiness destination.

The EZ responds to the vision setout in the Big City Plan to createand support a globally competitiveknowledge economy, the naturalhome for Europe’s entrepreneurs

and wealth creators with anenterprise culture supported byinvestment in infrastructure. Playingto the city’s strengths, the EZfocuses on those sectors in whichBirmingham and the region have acompetitive advantage and whichcan be accommodated in the citycentre including financial andprofessional services, creative anddigital businesses and educationproviders.

LocationThe EZ comprises 26 sites acrossnearly 70 hectares of Birminghamcity centre, identified as offeringsignificant development potential,and clustered around key areas ofopportunity within, and on thefringe of, established commercialareas.

City Centre Enterprise Zone

In combination with the existing strengths of the city centre location, the Enterprise Zone will attract and support investors and businesses insectors with high-growth potential.


The city centre location offersworld class transport links and ever-improving public spaces.

OpportunityThe EZ includes a range of short,medium and long termopportunities in the heart of thecity, which will come forward oversome 25 years. This includespotential for more than 700,000sqmof new office floorspace and600,000sqm of new leisure,recreation and commercialfloorspace within the city centre,accommodating more than 40,000new jobs.

To accommodate growth in thefinancial and professional servicessector, the central business district

within the city core needs to expand– westwards to take in the ArenaCentral and Paradise Circus sites,northwards to include Snow Hill,and over time to the east. Over thenext five years, these will presentsome of the biggest regenerationand development projects in theUK, offering unique opportunitiesfor companies seeking high profile,Grade A office space in a world-class business environment.

Opportunities reflecting existingclusters of digital and creativeactivity are available in Digbeth,Eastside, Jewellery Quarter andBirmingham Science Park Aston.The drive to accommodate agrowing digital/creative sectorpresents opportunities for investors

to develop bespoke space for largerbusinesses as well as flexible spacesuited to SME occupants.

Additionally, the EZ builds onexisting investment and offersparticular benefits for businesseslooking to locate in the city centre.The £128m EZ Investment Plan for2012-2018 will deliver:

Site Development*More than £70m of fundingearmarked for enabling works andto support development, openingup some of the city’s most excitingsites.


Infrastructure£43m of investment focused onprovision such as access, energyand transport solutions, making thecity centre an attractive andconnected place.

Simplified PlanningA Local Development Order inDigbeth and Birmingham SciencePark Aston allowing a wider rangeof changes of use without therequirement for planningpermission.

A simplified planning regime forthe wider EZ area with dedicatedresources and streamlinedprocesses to support applicants.

Digital InfrastructureAffordable access to ultrafastbroadband benefiting businesses,particularly those operating in theIT, creative and digital sectors.

Rates Relief*Relief of up to £55,000 per annumover a five year period forbusinesses entering the zone before31st March 2015, subject toeligibility.

Business Support*A £5m package of training, advice,consultancy and financial supportfor Businesses in the EZ, including:

• Financial support to assist newstart ups, business growth andrecruitment.

• Foreign Direct InvestmentIncentive scheme including£1,000 per new job created.

• Skills Development funding toprovide employer-focusedrecruitment, company trainingand enhanced apprenticeships.

DeliveryThe majority of the sites are clearedor vacant pendingclearance/refurbishment, and are inthe control of a single landowner ordeveloper. For further details ofindividual sites see the EnterpriseZone Prospectus atwww.birmingham.gov.uk/ez.

* All support to individual businesses will be

subject to State Aid limitations

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Firms looking to locate or expand inBirmingham to take advantage of our skilledlabour market and high quality businessenvironment will have a full range ofdevelopment opportunities available forconsideration:

Major Office Opportunities1. Arena Central 2. Beorma 3. Birmingham Children’s Hospital4. Eastside Locks5. Masshouse

6. Paradise Circus7. Post and Mail8. Snow Hill Queensway Phase 29. Snow Hill Queensway Phase 310.Southern Gateway11.103 Colmore Row

Digital, ICT & Creative Industries12.Birmingham City University Campus13.City Park Gate14.Connaught Square15.Curzon Park16.Custard Factory Extension

17.Digital Media Zone18.Great Barr Street19.Ludgate Hill 20.Newhall Square21.St Georges Urban Village22.Smithfield Court23.Typhoo Wharf24.University College Birmingham25.Venture Way26.Warwick Bar

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Birmingham aims to become one ofthe world’s leading green cities.Already a leader in renewableenergy, from low carbon fuels towaste management and bio-energyto solar photovoltaic, the city isprogressing integrated transportinfrastructure and the largestdomestic retrofit programme in theUK, paving the way as a sustainable,future-proof city.

Our universities produce worldclass research, including bio-energy,hydrogen materials and supplychain, and future power systems.Birmingham City University is anational centre for excellence forlearning, innovation and technologytransfer, and the University ofBirmingham hosts the EnergyTechnologies Institute as part of theMidlands Energy Consortium. Thisstrength at university level ensuresBirmingham has a good base of

suitably skilled graduates forpotential investors to recruit from.

The Tyseley area is synonymouswith the Energy Recovery Facility,which handles 350,000 tonnes ofBirmingham’s municipal waste eachyear and exports 25MW to theNational Grid after provision for on-site needs.

To exploit the opportunities thissector offers, particularly resourcerecovery and energy production,Tyseley has been designated anEnvironmental Enterprise District,promoting the creation of newenvironmental business parks atTyseley Wharf and Energy Way,fostering environmentaltechnologies symbiosis throughwork with academic institutions andexploiting opportunities from theEnergy Recovery Facility.

LocationAn established industrial area,Tyseley is located 2.5km south eastof the city centre between the A45Coventry Road and the A41Warwick Road. The area benefitsfrom good local road and publictransport links.

The core industrial area of Tyseleyis home to over 200 companiesincluding Veolia, Grayson ThermalSystems, Europackaging andThyssenKrupp Aerospace.

Outside the core industrialarea, the wider area alsoaccommodates a number ofsignificant businesses such asSpecialist Computer Holdings aswell as opportunities for investmentand development.

Environmental Enterprise District

Emerging technologies are driving a steady growth of environmentalindustries – over time this will represent an increasing part of thecity’s economy.


OpportunityThe Tyseley EnvironmentalEnterprise District (TEED) willbecome the principal location forthe low carbon economy inBirmingham, encouraging recycling,energy production and renewablesincluding manufacturing and supplychain development.

Redevelopment or refurbishmentof vacant and underutilised sites inthe area has the potential to

provide in excess of 100,000sqm ofnew floorspace, creating 1,500 jobs.

In the wider area, the Signal Pointsite lies to the south of thedesignated EnvironmentalEnterprise District and is availablefor development. It providesopportunities for larger inwardinvestors, and for companiesoutgrowing premises in thetraditional industrial area.

DeliveryThe TEED area benefits from anERDF package to improve andcreate new enterprise space and forbusiness development. www.birmingham.gov.uk/tpap

Businesses locating in the areawill also contribute to and benefitfrom the opportunities forinnovative approaches to lowcarbon energy production andresource recovery.


1. Proposed Tyseley Energy Park(Webster and Horsfall Group)The Webster and Horsfall Grouppropose to rationalisemanufacturing operations and byreducing the operational“footprint” will create adevelopment plot of approximately2.8 hectares which is to bemarketed over the next 2-3 years asTyseley Energy Park. This willpresent the opportunity for newdevelopment in the emerging “lowcarbon” energy sector.

The site is currently accessedfrom the A45 Coventry Road; asecond access is proposed fromSmall Heath Highway. Theproposed Tyseley Energy Parkbenefits from an outline planningconsent for industrial developmentand would be suitable for B1(c)(light industry) and B2 (generalindustry) uses.

2. Atlas WorksThe former Atlas Works, now acleared site, comprises 2.1 hectares.The site owner, the St. FrancisGroup, is preparing plans for anintegrated waste managementfacility.

3. Tyseley WharfLocated at the centre of theestablished Tyseley industrial area,this 4.1 hectare site is in theownership of the Canal & RiverTrust. Tyseley Wharf benefits from afrontage to the Grand Union Canal,which will provide an attractivesetting for the new business park.This will provide approximately12,200 square metres of newfloorspace.

The site is suitable for B1(c) (lightindustry) and B2 (general industry),ideally associated with theenvironmental industries sector.

4. Hay Hall RoadThis 4.4 hectares site benefits fromplanning consent for a 15,000 sqm‘Energy Recovery Facility’, and maybe suitable for a range of ‘lowcarbon’ industries. The site hasdirect access to an operationalrailhead which is currently protectedfor rail freight.

5. Former EMR siteThis privately owned site comprises2.08 hectares. The site requiressubstantial remediation work butcould greatly benefit an appropriateend user.

The site fronts the A41 WarwickRoad and Wharfdale Road, close toTyseley railway station and Tyseleylocal centre. It is suitable for B1(c)(light industry) and B2 (generalindustry), ideally making use of therail head facility.


6. Signal Point A41 Warwick RoadThis 5.9 hectare former industrialsite has been cleared forredevelopment. It has good roadaccess, which will be furtherenhanced by the extension of

Battery Way to provide a new routethrough the site. The site hasoutline planning consent and issuitable for industrial anddistribution activity including B1c(light industry), B2 (general industry)

and B8 (storage and distribution)uses. It could accommodate in theregion of 30,000 sqm ofdevelopment.

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Birmingham offers a competitiveadvantage for the sector, with acompelling offer including state ofthe art clinical facilities, populationscale and diversity, a vibrant lifesciences sector, and strongpartnerships between academicsand clinicians.

State of the art clinical facilities inthe area include the new£545million Queen ElizabethHospital Birmingham (QEHB), whichhosts a range of local, regional andnational services, including thelargest solid organ transplantationprogramme in Europe, the largestrenal transplant programme in theUK, a specialist centre for liver, heartand lung transplants and the RoyalCentre for Defence Medicine. TheBirmingham Women’s Hospital issituated adjacent, with the potentialfor the Children’s Hospital to alsorelocate to the area. A number of

private hospitals are located inEdgbaston, and will be joined bythe new Birmingham DentalHospital.

A catchment of up to five millionpeople, with a diverse populationincluding a large ethnic community,a wide socio-economic diversity, alarge proportion of young people,and a varied case mix, provides anunrivalled clinical trials base.

The UK is a world leader in LifeSciences (pharmaceuticals, medicalbiotechnology, and medicaltechnology/devices), ranking 2nd inthe world after the US. There is avibrant and growing Life Sciencessector in the West Midlands, withover 850 SME life sciencesbusinesses generating £180m GVAfor the region in 2010.

The University of Birmingham hasthe second largest medical schoolin the country; universities across

the region provide significantnumbers of high calibre graduatesin medical, biochemistry,engineering and related fields tomeet the future needs of investors.Birmingham Health Partners, apioneering alliance betweenacademics and clinicians, maximisesclinical academic output andinteraction with SMEs and globalpharmaceutical companies.

The city has an internationalreputation and proven track recordin clinical academic programmes,clinical trials, and translationalresearch. It hosts the largestWellcome Clinical Research Facilityin the UK, a national BiomedicalResearch Unit in Liver Disease, thefirst CRUK Cancer Centre, thelargest specialist Cancer Trials Unitin the UK and a national centre forTrauma Research.

Life Sciences Campus

Birmingham has many advantages for the life and health sciences sector,and aims to capitalise on this by offering a high quality campus locationcentred on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the University of Birmingham.



Birmingham has a proven model fortranslational research in the Centrefor Clinical Haematology, which,following a public grant of £2.2m,has created 150 jobs and attracted£15m private sector investment, aswell as delivering improved healthoutcomes. Many of the associatedbusinesses are export rich.

The city is identified as one of thevery few centres internationally thatcan complete the full circle ofTranslational Medicine (MRCTranslational Roadmap PeerReview). In particular the co-locatingof pharmaceutical firms withclinicians and academics willprovide opportunities for export-rich growth and employment. Byaccelerating discoveries from thelab bench to patient bedside, it willdeliver major clinical benefits.

Birmingham Research Park is wellestablished and currently hosts arange of medical technology andlife sciences firms; this will be

boosted by the Bio MedicalInnovation Hub proposed on theBirmingham Research Park, and the£24 million Institute of TranslationalMedicine (ITM) is to be developedon the Queen Elizabeth Hospitalcampus with support from the LEP.

A high quality IT infrastructure is inplace to support life sciencesactivity: the QEHB offers a worldclass track record in the design,delivery and commercialisation ofclinical decision support systems(e.g. e-prescribing), healthinformatics, particularly linking tolarge complex datasets andcreating real-time analytical tools.

LocationThe Campus will be co-locatedadjacent to the university andhospital where its activity can easilyinteract with clinical academics inthe university and clinicians withinthe health service.

The sites benefit from the SellyOak new road which provides directaccess from the A38 Bristol Road;further access enhancements areproposed. The area also benefitsfrom regular rail services, andBirmingham Airport is easilyaccessible putting local, nationaland overseas markets on thedoorstep.



OpportunityThe Life Sciences Campus willbecome the principal locationnationally for parts of the LifeSciences sector. Up to 50,000sqm ofnew floorspace across a number of3-4 storey buildings, in an attractiveand accessible campus setting, willprovide a world class environmentfor business to start up and grow, aswell as those which are expandingor wishing to relocate.

The space will be suitable forresearch and development, clinicaltrials, pharmaceuticalmanufacturing, and regionalheadquarters, providingopportunities for export rich growthand employment.

The ITM project is expected togenerate 600 new jobs in the first 5years, with 2,000 created in thelonger term as the life sciencescampus develops.

A range of other opportunitiesaround Selly Oak and Edgbastonwill provide supporting facilitiesincluding hotels, conference andtraining, leisure, retail and officefacilities.

Nearly £1bn investment in thenew hospital and road over recentyears will be followed by a further£178 million investment insignificant upgrading of theUniversity. There is furthersignificant investment in thepipeline.

DeliveryA masterplan is being prepared forSelly Oak to guide the regenerationstrategy for the wider area. This willsupport the development of the LifeSciences sector, both throughfacilitating the development of newdedicated space for the sector, andthrough promotion of

complementary uses in the area. The City Council is working with

its partners, including the HospitalTrust, University, Calthorpe Estate,and other landowners andstakeholders, to bring forward sitesfor the medical/life sciences sectorin particular.

A bid for Growing Places fundingwill be used to support theassembly and remediation of thesite, creating a large site in publicownership which will be managedto come forward in phases over anumber of years. There is also thepotential for a joint venture withprivate landowners.


Life Sciences CampusThis Campus will accommodatearound 50,000sqm in 3 or 4 storeybuildings.

UniversityThe ongoing redevelopment andenhancement of the University’scampus includes proposals for newsports/leisure and library facilities inan improved setting. Furtherrefurbishment and newdevelopment to enhance theinternational standing of theUniversity will be supported.

Mixed Use OpportunitiesA mixed use scheme includingretail, leisure, office and residentialuses on the Birmingham BatterySite will enhance connections to animproved local centre.

Subject to the relocation ofexisting uses, the Dingle siteprovides an opportunity for localcentre uses including retail, withoffice, hotel or studentaccommodation on upper floors.

The relocation of the existingSainsbury’s store would release theTriangle site for development, withthe opportunity for an improvedfrontage to Bristol Road as well asaccess improvements to the area asa whole. The site is appropriate forretail and residential or hotel uses.

Queen ElizabethHospital University

of Birmingham

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The food and drinks industry is thelargest manufacturing sector in theUK, contributing £72.7 billion to thenational economy and employing ofover 350,000 people. It is growing at4.7% per annum – faster than mostother manufacturing sectors.

The UK remains globallycompetitive in this sector – thegrowth of the sector outstrips thatof comparable sectors in countriessuch as Germany.

The region already hostssignificant production activity -many world class brands are basedin the city, including Cadbury’s,Coors and Bulmers, as well ashundreds of smaller regional andlocal producers. Several cuttingedge companies within the regionare leading innovation in new food technologies.

At the centre of the nationalmotorway network, Birmingham isideally suited for food distribution,and offers a range of locationalbenefits for food and drinkcompanies. A gateway to theEuropean market, it offers particularopportunities as a European HQlocation for US and Asiancompanies. For companies in thesupply chain and supplying thenational market, 90% of the UK’smarket is within four hours ofBirmingham. Combined with theaccess to raw materials within theregion, this has the advantage ofreducing ‘food miles’.

The local market supports agrowing agglomeration aroundnational suppliers of ethnic cuisine.Reflecting the requirements andexpertise of Birmingham’s diverse

population, this continues to be anarea where competitive advantagecan be gained, particularly in importand export markets.

Birmingham and the region canprovide a skilled workforce acrossall components of the sector.World-renowned food technologyand manufacturing expertise isdeveloped at the regionsuniversities and through existingR&D activity. Mid-level skills inproduction and processing arereadily available, with specialistexpertise including Halal and ethnic foods.

The Food Hub

Birmingham has a long standing and important food and drinkeconomy, and is well placed to continue to enhance its reputation inthis sector and capitalise on its growth.



LocationThe Food Hub concept is part ofthe former IMI site in northBirmingham, which provides over 36 hectares of prime industrial landthat has excellent access to the UK’smotorway network near M6Junction 6, and on the city’s localrail and bus routes.

The location of the Food Hubputs it at the heart of the city’sworkforce to help meet labourrequirements.

OpportunityThe Food Hub will provide theopportunity to combine

manufacturing, associated R&D,and distribution in a nationallyattractive location for companieslooking to locate at the heart of theUK’s food and drink sector.

The site is cleared, and alreadyhas the infrastructure in place toensure good access.

Owned by PRUPIM the site hasplanning permission for B1 (lightindustry), B2 (general industry) andB8 (storage and distribution) uses. Itoffers the flexibility ofaccommodating a range of differentsize units up to 70,000 sqm thatcould be used for production,processing, packaging and

distribution. In total the Food Hubcould accommodate more than140,000sqm of new floorspace.

DeliveryThe City Council is working inpartnership with PRUPIM to offer anexciting opportunity to develop animportant and growing sector.

PRUPIM will provide a bespokedesign team with experience in thissector to work alongside food anddrink companies wishing to locatehere. The City Council and itspartners will work with thosecompanies to access funding toenable relocation and expansion.


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Information and CommunicationTechnology (ICT) is the cornerstoneof the modern economy,underpinning commercial activityacross all sectors. There is agrowing demand for ICT operationssuch as business processoutsourcing and data centres, whichoffer a business-to-business service,public sector outsourcing, sharedservice centres, and e-commerceback-end operations.

The region is home to anestablished ICT sector, with anumber of ICT companies in the top25 employers in the region. Thisreflects existing expertise. There isalso a large labour pool with mid-range skills in ICT and relatedactivity; something lacking in otherparts of the country.

Birmingham has had somesuccess in attracting both UK andforeign-owned firms requiringlocations to deliver large ICToperations including Fujitsu andCSC. To meet growing globalbusiness demand Birminghamoffers a significant opportunity atLongbridge.

The location will particularly suitAsian and far eastern companieswishing to have a base to serve theirEuropean clients and markets.

LocationThe ITEC Park will be focused at theheart of Longbridge, within 5hectares owned by St Modwen andthe Homes & Communities Agency(HCA) at the junction of Bristol Roadwith Longbridge Lane, to

complement the new BournvilleCollege, Technology Centre andlocal centre facilities.

It is easily accessed fromBirmingham, only seven miles southof the city centre with excellent busand rail links. The A38 bisects thesite, and M5 Junction 4 is within 3 miles.

OpportunityUniquely, the opportunity lies at theheart of one of the largest urbanregeneration projects in the country.Overall Longbridge offers morethan 140 hectares of available landas a Regional Investment Site.

Longbridge ITEC Park

This is a premier location for high quality office space with superfastbroadband connectivity suited to the needs of the ICT sector, in anaccessible town centre location.



Over £250m has already beeninvested in Longbridge to date,including:

• £100m Longbridge TechnologyPark

• New £70m Longbridge TownCentre, including superstore,urban park, hotel, offices andretail blocks

• £66m Bournville College, openedin September 2011

• 113 new homes completed, andplanning permission granted fora further 229

• £5m Youth Centre opened in 2012

Sustainability is at the heart of theregeneration of Longbridge, andthe location offers high quality andefficient public transport access,including the cross city railwaystation providing regional accessand bus services, walking andcycling routes providing localaccess. A combined heat and power(CHP) plant is also proposed.

The opportunity at Longbridge isideal for companies requiring highquality, low cost large floorplateoffice space.

The nature of the available land,in terms of scale and ownership,offers flexibility. Depending on the

needs of occupiers, a range of plotsizes and locations are available.

The potential to install ultrafastbroadband connections as part ofthe utilities package increases theattractiveness of the site for data-heavy operations. We believe theITEC Park to be particularly suitedto the following sub-sectors:

• Software products• IT services• Business process outsourcing • Cloud computing • Data mining• E-commerce

The Longbridge EmploymentAccess Team, developed to supportthe wider regeneration ofLongbridge, will work withemployers and training providersincluding Bournville College toprovide customised training andrecruitment as well as ongoing staffdevelopment.

ImplementationA masterplan – the LongbridgeArea Action Plan – is in place toguide the comprehensiveregeneration of the area. St. Modwen, the principlelandowner and developer of theLongbridge site, has worked closely


with partners in taking a strategicapproach towards the developmentand providing the necessary longterm investment.

More than £10m of investment isproposed to improve the publictransport and road network in thearea; further investment will be

required to provide high qualityaccess to new developments.

The City is working with St.Modwen and digital infrastructureproviders to provide ultrafastbroadband solutions for theLongbridge site.

Given the scale of theopportunity here, St. Modwen andthe City Council are confident thatby working with potential investorswe can bring forward successful,sustainable development which fitsthe needs of businesses and drivesthe regeneration of Longbridge.

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Jobs for local peopleThe development of these key sitesacross Birmingham will increase jobopportunities, both in constructionand with end-occupiers. Developerswill be required to work with theCity Council and our partners toensure that local people,particularly those who are currentlyunemployed, are able to benefitfrom these opportunities throughour bespoke training andrecruitment programmes. We willencourage the adoption of localemployment and trainingagreements where appropriate, andwill support business in achievinghighly skilled workforce, providing acompetitive advantage and raisingproductivity, as well as improvingemployee progression.

Sustainable development Birmingham is working to becomeone of the world’s leading greencities. Through cooperation withdevelopers and investors to makeuse of the latest innovativetechnologies, we can reduce thecity’s overall energy consumption.

The Council will seek to maximisethe opportunities for minimisingenergy use and securing carbonemission reductions in all newdevelopments. Where there areexisting decentralised energysupply systems or firm proposals,the Council will expect proposeddevelopments to connect to anidentified system, or be designed tobe able to connect in the future. Inall cases design should consider theuse of accelerated energy efficiencymeasures and renewable measures,

ensuring that the growing city iseffectively adapting to the impactsof climate change, whilst at thesame time nurturing andmaintaining the overall naturalenvironment and historical heritage.

Developers should plan for theinclusion of physical infrastructureto support the provision of highspeed broadband across the city.

Excellence in designAll new developments will berequired to adopt the highestprinciples of design: roads andfootpaths should feel safe to useand integrate well with thesurrounding area, architecture ofbuildings should reflect their use,and landscaping should be integralto the design process.

Building Birmingham:

The City Council has a commitment to encourage development thatbrings real changes and long-term sustainable benefits to localpeople and the environment.

our ask


Design should also reflect thecity’s environmental ambitions –densities and materials should beenvironmentally sound, locationsshould minimise reliance on theprivate car, and considerationshould be given to energy

conservation and minimising waterconsumption.

Consultation and engagementDevelopers are expected to consultfully with local residents and otherstakeholders in preparing

proposals, and to ensure that thoseaffected by their proposals remainengaged throughout thedevelopment process.


All aerial photographs are © copyright Bluesky 2012

Documents

Economic Zones - Birmingham · Economic Zones: Investing in Birmingham 5 Birmingham has a long history of enterprise and innovation. A priority of the Council is to capture and grow