Investment and Development Opportunities
The West Midlands is the place to create, innovate and build the future.
A region where long-term, inclusive growth is driven by strong leadership, responsible investment, world-class businesses and talented people.
Various exciting opportunities are available throughout Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry and the wider region, just waiting to be discovered by real estate developers and investors. We’ve featured several key developments here, with all opportunities and investable projects detailed in a comprehensive investment prospectus.
Suppose you’re interested in the places and ecosystems around these real estate investments. In that case, you’ll want to read ‘The West Midlands: At the Centre of UK Innovation‘ report, produced by urban intelligence firm The Business of Cities, highlighting the opportunities that the West Midlands presents for developers and investors of real estate, places and ecosystems.
As a forward-thinking, future-defining region, there are a multitude of innovation-led investment opportunities for you to get involved in. There has never been a more exciting time to invest in the West Midlands.
Major innovation-led opportunities
University of Warwick’s Innovation Campus near Wellesbourne
- £250m+ GDV
- 30 minutes to the airport
- 192 hectares
The new Innovation Campus is near Wellesbourne, 14 miles south of the main University of Warwick campus in Coventry. It is a key location, with access to London and the southeast, and the manufacturing ability of the West Midlands.
The University is seeking a long-term master developer partner to help deliver the world-leading site.
Birmingham Knowledge Quarter Core
- 210 hectares
- 4,800 new homes
- 580,000 square metres of new floor space
This joint venture between the city council, Aston University, Birmingham City University, Woodbourne Group, and national developer Bruntwood SciTech, is seeking joint capital partners that can bring experience in innovation-led development.
The site is primed to be an innovative area, set to draw knowledge-intensive and R&D companies. The development will merge the existing ‘Knowledge Quarter’ with the city centre, further empowering the area and making it a key aspect of Birmingham’s tech-driven economy.
Coventry and Warwick Gigapark
- £2.5bn+ GDV
- 251 hectares
- 20 km to the airport
- 5.7m square feet of industrial space
Calling on battery manufacturers and capital investors to become part of this joint venture. The investment has been de-risked by local government, which has allotted funds to improving infrastructure around the site.
The Gigapark will be a big step towards meeting the rising demands of battery tech in the UK in the coming decades.
Wolverhampton Green Innovation Corridor
- £110m+ GDV
- 1,220 new jobs
- 24,000 square feet
- £200m investment
Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor will connect two parts of the Wolverhampton campus, the Springfield Campus and the Science Park. It is a multi-phase development with opportunities for developers and investors.
Overall, the development will create opportunities for business growth, employment and start-ups, situated as it is in the northern gateway into the city.
Mixed-Use Opportunities
Smithfield
- £1.9bn+ GDV
- 1.3m square feet of commercial and leisure space
- 3,000 family homes
- 10,000 jobs supported
Smithfield is a joint venture between Birmingham City Council and Master Development partner Lendlease to deliver a new city centre innovation, living and leisure destination in the city of Birmingham. It will generate homes, jobs and workspace, reshaping Birmingham City Centre.
This development is seeking to partner with investors on the overall scheme, or on a phase-by-phase basis, and is aiming for a completion date of 2035. Outline planning consent has been granted for the whole scheme, with full planning consent granted for Phase 1, achieved through a hybrid planning application.
Arden Cross
- £3bn+ GDV
- 27,000 jobs
- 350 acres
With immediate access to world-class air, rail and road infrastructure, Arden Cross in Solihull sits within the wider UK Central Hub; an area of Britain with one of the strongest high-value manufacturing economies and access to a highly skilled workforce.
The 140-hectare site, included in the West Midlands Trailblazer Devolution Deal with the UK Government, is led by the development partner Muse.
Town centre regeneration opportunities
Brewers Yard Wolverhampton
Introducing Phase 1 of Brewers Yard, part of Wolverhampton’s canal side regeneration. Formerly a vital industrial site, currently housing a city council-owned bus depot, this development marks a significant step towards reviving the urban landscape.
Thanks to funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority, preparations are underway to clear the site for an ambitious project featuring 900 residential units and 60,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, with an estimated gross development value of £250 million. Phase 1 has recently been granted outline planning permission, encompasses 600 dwellings, and has approximately 16,000 square feet of commercial space.
Strategically located near the Brownfield Institute at the University of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Campus and the planned Green Innovation Corridor, Brewers Yard benefits from a dynamic ecosystem poised for growth. Its proximity to the newly enhanced railway station and integrated transport hub ensures seamless connectivity to the wider region.
Walsall
Unlock unprecedented opportunities in Walsall, a West Midlands town centre poised for remarkable growth, with a potential Gross Development Value exceeding £300 million.
Situated within the heart of the West Midlands, Walsall boasts a thriving advanced manufacturing and logistics sector, bolstered by strategic investments along the M6 corridor, notably the progressive SPARK development, supported by substantial funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority. Walsall is poised to build on its existing strengths and boost its advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors further.
With seamless connectivity via the M6, M5 and soon-to-be-introduced direct rail services to London, Walsall offers great convenience for businesses and residents alike. The upcoming construction of a new train station will further increase its position as a connected hub within the region.
Walsall Council’s visionary 20-year masterplan is set to transform the town centre into a centre fit for the current and future demands of its catchment. Backed by over £425 million in town centre investments, spearheaded by the council and with funding secured for regeneration initiatives, including greener public spaces, integrated transport hubs, and vibrant mixed-use leisure-led developments, Walsall aims to redefine its urban experience and night-time economy.
Coventry
Discover the promising real estate investment landscape in Coventry, a city poised for significant transformation. Recent investments in critical infrastructure, such as the railway station, the council-led development of One & Two Friargate, and the improved pedestrian permeability between the railway station and the city centre, have solidified Coventry’s status as an emerging hub for growth. The relocation of Octopus Energy to Two Friargate further underscores its appeal to progressive businesses.
Coventry’s proactive approach to sustainability is exemplified by its collaboration with E.ON on a decarbonisation strategy, its ambitious plans to be the UK’s first city to operate a fully electrified bus service and the implementation of a very light rail system which will provide increased connectivity throughout the city. These initiatives reinforce the city’s environmental commitment and create opportunities for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions.
West Bromwich
West Bromwich, centrally located in Sandwell, is gearing up for an exciting revolution. With a strong foundation in advanced manufacturing and significant public-sector-led investments, including the Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital and Sandwell Aquatics Centre, the town is primed for growth.
Connected by the M5 and a reliable tram system, West Bromwich offers access to the wider regions, making it an attractive destination for businesses and residents.
The council’s forward-thinking masterplan envisions a revived town centre, featuring green public spaces, diverse mixed-use developments, and a modern, consolidated retail offering. Covering an expansive area of approximately 22 hectares, the potential gross development value exceeds £500 million. This scale presents a remarkable opportunity for investors and developers to make a significant impact. With most of the land included within the masterplan under council ownership, the timescale for regeneration can very much be shaped by the speed of private sector funding and delivery partners.
MIRA Technology Park South – Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Unlock the potential of future advanced manufacturing and R&D at MIRA Technology Park South in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Positioned within one of the UK’s foremost Enterprise Zones, this 145-acre site, owned by HORIBA MIRA Ltd, offers an exceptional opportunity for capital investors and prospective occupiers.
With a targeted capital investment of £300 million, HORIBA MIRA Ltd aims to propel the development forward, capitalizing on the region’s already strong engineering presence globally. Complementing the existing northern site renowned for its 40 major test facilities and 106 kilometres of test tracks, focused on propulsion technology, autonomy, and cyber-security, MIRA Technology Park South is poised to further enhance the area’s reputation as an international engineering hub with the future provision of advanced manufacturing and R&D units.
Offering bespoke plots ranging from 150,000 square feet to 1,000,000 square feet, the site presents adaptability to meet diverse occupant needs. Outline planning permission has been granted for employment use, with reserved matters planning awaiting specific occupier requirements, so that design and build solutions can be tailored.
West Midlands Affordable Housing
In the West Midlands region, meeting housing demand is crucial, with a target of constructing 215,000 homes by 2031. Currently, the region is on-track to achieve this, however in order to continue to build 15,000 homes a year, we need to ensure more sites are built upon. This endeavour encompasses a specific focus on affordable housing, a key concern nationally.
To achieve this, The West Midlands Growth Company are actively seeking engagement with affordable housing providers to discuss potential development opportunities in the region, as well as the funding available via the West Midlands Combined Authority to support affordable housing initiatives. These funds include the Brownfield, Infrastructure, and Land Fund; the Brownfield Housing Fund; and the Residential Investment Fund. The funds are designed to address viability gaps and facilitate affordable housing provision for both brownfield and greenfield sites.
West Midlands Hotels
The West Midlands, historically dominated by industry and professional services, has undergone a transformational shift. It now boasts a diversified economy, embracing leisure, tourism, higher education and international sporting events which has spurred a growing demand for hotels.
Recognising this evolution, there’s a concerted effort to elevate the quality of hotel provision, aiming for an increased offering of 4 and 5-star accommodations commensurate with the region’s evolving stature.
The West Midlands Growth Company is actively seeking discussions with hotel developers and operators, particularly those new to the UK market, to explore opportunities within the region.
At the Centre of UK Innovation Report
