SPARK regeneration project gets underway

Work has started on a “landmark” £100 million West Midlands regeneration project.

SPARK, led by Origin – a joint venture between HBD and Feldberg Capital – will deliver 620,000sq ft of industrial and logistics space in Walsall.

Bosses say it “will be a catalyst for economic growth” and “create thousands of new jobs”.

The first phase includes two units of 250,000sq ft and 18,000sq ft, which are expected to be ready later this year.

Ed Hutchinson, HBD managing director, said: “SPARK is one of the region’s most important regeneration projects – it will attract significant inward investment into the West Midlands and create thousands of new jobs while providing much-needed net-zero carbon capable space.

“It has been an extremely complex endeavour to transform this site and ready it for development, so it’s great to see SPARK beginning to take shape.”

Jamie Acheson, Feldberg Capital managing director, added: “We are delighted to have commenced construction of this landmark development for the Origin platform. 

“This project supports our investment thesis of developing best-in-class, highly sustainable industrial and logistics space in key strategic locations.” 

SPARK is transforming what was once the Black Country’s largest undeveloped brownfield site, having originally been home to the James Bridge Copper Works.

The site was remediated by HBD in partnership with Walsall Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, Black Country LEP and Homes England.

Richard Parker, West Midlands mayor, who visited the site to mark the beginning of the project, added: “This former copper works, once a place of heavy industry, is being transformed into a site ready to house modern manufacturing and logistics companies.

“It will create hundreds of valuable jobs, but most importantly, it will be a catalyst for economic growth in the region.” 

The agents for SPARK are Cushman & Wakefield and Knight Frank.

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