UK fuels Midlands Engine with £7bn in opportunities

MIPIM 2017: The UK government has unveiled over £7bn of Midlands Engine investment opportunities as part of the Midlands Engine investment portfolio launched on the inaugural Midlands Pavilion at MIPIM today. The portfolio compiled by the Department for International Trade, and in partnership with the Midlands Engine, showcases 19 major investment-ready opportunities across the region. It contains major infrastructure, regeneration and business development projects in city centres such as Birmingham, Derby and Nottingham and also includes opportunities at the National Space Centre in Leicester and the first purpose-built business district in Coventry (see box, below). Large-scale investment opportunities in the portfolio include: Birmingham Curzon (more than £500m), Friargate in Coventry (£700m) UK Central Hub/HS2 Interchange, Solihull (£2bn) and Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park, Leicestershire (£625m). International trade minister Mark Garnier said: “The Midlands Engine investment portfolio will enable us to harness the strong potential and accelerate the growth of the region by showcasing some of the most exciting investment projects across the Midlands. It will also enable us to build on the region’s strong record of attracting foreign investment.” Commercial secretary to the Treasury, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, added: “On the back of the Midlands Engine Strategy published last week, which set out our multi-million pound investment to boost jobs and skills, this £7bn investment portfolio opens up huge opportunities for vital inward investment.” Midlands Engine investment portfolio opportunities: ■ Birmingham Curzon – more than £500m ■ Birmingham Smithfield – more than £500m ■ Drakelow Park, Derbyshire – £360m ■ Friargate, Coventry – £700m ■ Grantham Southern Quadrant, Lincolnshire – more than £200m ■ Heart of the City, Derby – £165m ■ Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park, Leicestershire – £625m ■ Nottingham City Centre – more than £1bn ■ Peppermint Park, Holbeach, Lincolnshire – more than £150m ■ Redditch Eastern Gateway, Worcestershire – more than £100m ■ South Kestevon Regional Offer, Lincolnshire – more than £100m ■ Springfield Campus, Wolverhampton – more than £125m ■ Stoke-on-Trent city centre – more than £310m ■ The Boots Enterprise Zone, Nottingham – more than £100m ■ The National Space Park – more than £75m ■ Tudor Cross, Bolsover, Derbyshire – £175m ■ UK Central Hub and HS2 Interchange, Solihull – more than £2bn ■ Wolverhampton Canalside and City Interchange – more than £155m ■ Worcester growth corridor – up to £300m To send feedback e-mail lisa.pilkington@egi.co.uk or Tweet @eglisap or @estatesgazette Click here for all the news, views and analysis from MIPIM 2017