Expansion plans announced

3D visualisation from the road

8 April 2008

St Modwen and Advantage West Midlands have announced expansion plans for its £100 million Longbridge Technology Park.

The UK’s leading regeneration specialist has submitted planning applications for Three and Five Devon Way, two buildings which together are set to deliver a further 40,000 sq ft of Grade A research and technology space to Longbridge.

Longbridge Technology Park, situated off the A38 Bristol Road South, is one of the first phases of the £750 million mixed use Longbridge scheme. The first two completed office buildings, the Innovation Centre and Two Devon Way, have received strong levels of interest from start up to medium-sized technology based businesses, with suites available from 200 sq ft upwards. As a result the Innovation Centre is already more than 50 per cent let, having secured 25 lettings to date.

Situated adjacent to the existing buildings, the proposed Three and Five Devon Way will comprise 25,000 sq ft and 15,000 sq ft of office space respectively. Both buildings have been designed to complement the Innovation Centre and Two Devon Way, and are expected to achieve a BREEAM ‘very good’ rating. Three Devon Way is a three storey building and Five Devon Way has two storeys.

Subject to planning, work is expected to start on the new buildings before the end of the year; and future occupiers stand to benefit from flexible lease terms and a full range of on site business support services.

Mike Murray, senior development manager for St Modwen, said: "The success of the Innovation Centre and Two Devon Way have put Longbridge Technology Park on the map as a prime location for technology-led businesses. The next phase of development – Three and Five Devon Way – will continue to tap into the pent up demand that clearly exists in the regional marketplace for flexible Grade A office space of this nature.

"The vision for the 40 acre Longbridge Technology Park fits into St Modwen’s and Advantage West Midlands’ aspirations for the wider Longbridge scheme. As the largest regeneration project in the West Midlands, Longbridge is highly important in terms of the social and economic future of the city; and continued progress and expansion at the Technology Park represent a significant step towards the development partners delivering a sustainable new community at Longbridge."

More than 468 acres is set to be transformed at Longbridge by St Modwen and Advantage West Midlands. The pioneering vision for the area includes the creation of 10,000 new jobs and thousands of new homes alongside a quality public realm and an excellent public transport system, all of which will establish Longbridge as a truly mixed use model of sustainability.

Longbridge Technology Park is located within five minutes’ drive of the M42 (Junction 2) and the M5 (Junction 4). It is just eight miles from the centre of Birmingham and five minutes’ walk from Longbridge train station, which provides direct access to Birmingham University and Birmingham New Street to the north, and Redditch to the south.

For more information on the space available at either the Innovation Centre, Two Devon Way, or to discuss future opportunities at Longbridge Technology Park, please contact Andrea Fullard at St Modwen on 0121 222 5555 or Tom Bourton or Andy Venables at GVA Grimley on 0121 236 8236.

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