Investment agreed to bring world-leading business to West Longbridge
Waters Corporation has signed an agreement to purchase its new Longbridge technology centre which is currently being developed by St. Modwen.
The global leader in speciality measurement equipment employs over 7,000 people worldwide and will bring a flagship industry leading scientific technology innovation centre, across three acres on Longbridge Business Park.
The move will create over 100 skilled jobs and cement the company’s interests in the West Midlands while becoming the centre of its UK R&D activity.
As St. Modwen continues the regeneration of West Longbridge, the area is rapidly gaining a reputation for being a specialist centre for science, technology, medicine, precision engineering and R&D sectors.
Leading businesses such as Bytesnap and Mark3d are already based in Longbridge, and with IVC Evidensia well on its way to completion, all are helping to support and grow the local economy.
Construction work on the Waters building starts in early 2023 and the specialist centre is scheduled to open in 2024. When complete, the new facility will provide a world-class centre, developing high-value analytical technologies and offering industry-leading scientific expertise.
Waters will move from its existing premises in Shirley, Solihull, and the new facility will deliver a 300% increase in operational space for rapid prototyping and increased experimentation activity in areas such as pharmaceuticals and forensics.
This exciting new scientific base for Waters will bring further specialist expertise to Longbridge. As the entire Longbridge regeneration continues it is encouraging to see industry leading businesses choosing this developing location as their base for operations. It’s good news for the local and regional economies and will ensure that the work undertaken by St. Modwen in recent years will benefit the area for many years to come.”
Elliot Sellars, Development Director at St. Modwen
Upon completion, Longbridge Business Park will create up to 5,000 new jobs and has benefitted from infrastructure investment in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Another significant milestone has been reached for Longbridge and its regeneration. Having a world-leading scientific company based here speaks volumes for the work that has been done to date and what it represents for the future of this historical area. I’m pleased that the WMCA has been able to support the rejuvenation of Longbridge and I look forward to further exciting developments soon.”
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands
Longbridge Business Park offers exceptional local, regional and national connectivity and is a sustainable addition to the wider £1bn Longbridge masterplan. In addition to the business park, the investment will see an attractive new residential neighbourhood of 350 homes created.
