A bid has been launched to secure £14 billion from global investors to turn the Midlands into one of the world’s leading regional economies.
For the first time ever, the Midlands has come together to showcase investment opportunities to key markets such as China and the US at the MIPIM property conference in Cannes.
As part of the Midlands Engine push, it has unveiled 33 major opportunities for investors, which combined can create 178,000 jobs, 32,000 new homes and 57.9 million sq ft of property space for the region.
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The Midlands is the largest economic area outside London, and attracted 880 foreign direct investment projects between 2011 and 2015, more than any other region.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The Midlands is a region on the rise with a unique offer to investors. From Nestle to Rolls Royce, it is home to some of the world’s biggest companies and boasts a vast pool of talent in industries ranging from advanced manufacturing to food and drink.
“Foreign investment in the Midlands has more than doubled since 2011 and by embracing opportunities such as the MIPIM trade fair, we will capitalise on the Midlands’ natural strengths and make it an engine for growth.”
These opportunities, the majority of which are ready for development immediately, include:
* A £1.5 billon opportunity to build 4,000 homes around the new HS2 station, Curzon Street.
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* The £1 billion-plus regeneration around the HS2 Interchange and Hub in Solihull alone to create more than 20,000 new jobs.
* A £400 million mixed-use development site in Leicester, which will be one of the biggest greenfield sites to be developed in the 海角视频.
* Jaguar Land Rover will expand its existing facilities, and create a designated technology campus in Coventry, investing £500 million.
* A range of investment opportunities adjacent to the Rolls-Royce global civil aerospace headquarters, totting up to £700 million, are on offer.
Andy Street, chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, said: “The Midlands is undergoing a remarkable economic resurgence, underpinned by the talent, infrastructure and support that the region offers to businesses large and small. Launching the Midlands Engine Pitchbook demonstrates how the region has developed a coordinated approach to targeting new investment; by working together, we have a stronger voice and more compelling story to tell the world. By showcasing our strongest investment opportunities – from HS2 to major residential schemes and Enterprise Zone sites – to key markets such as China, Europe and the USA, I have no doubt that the Pitchbook will help to stimulate even more international interest in the Midlands.”