Major Developments

World-leading science centre planned for Longbridge

St. Modwen, the UK’s leading developer of new communities and high-quality homes, has made a planning application to Birmingham City Council to build a new industry-leading precision engineering centre that will create up to 100 skilled new jobs.

Planning permission for the building is being sought on behalf of Waters Corporation, global leaders in speciality measurement equipment for over 60 years and employing over 7,000 specialists throughout the world. The new facility to be based on West Longbridge Business Park would provide a world-class centre, developing high-value analytical technologies and offering industry-leading scientific expertise. The 60,000 sq ft proposed development would deliver a 300% increase in available space for Waters compared to their existing premises in Solihull, allowing for rapid prototyping and increased experimentation activity.

The Waters facility is the second science business to commit to Longbridge in the past six months, following confirmation that IVC Evidensia is developing a state-of-the-art veterinary centre that will create 150 new local jobs. These two new businesses add to those already based in Longbridge and contribute to plans  to become a leading location for science and technology, medicine, precision engineering and R&D.

West Longbridge Business Park will create up to 5,000 new jobs, with work on access roads and landscaping already underway following £20m of infrastructure investment in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

This latest planning application for the ongoing regeneration of Longbridge maintains the momentum of this exciting project that is delivering opportunities locally, regionally and nationally. It’s pleasing that the WMCA have been able to contribute to the ongoing development that is positively impacting Longbridge today and creating a legacy for future generations.”

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands

West Longbridge Business Park offers 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 also created, permissions of which were granted in February 2022.

The proposed new facility for Waters would deliver further technical jobs to what is fast becoming a specialist business hub for science and technology.. It’s encouraging that globally recognised organisations are seeing the potential that West Longbridge has to offer in terms of attracting talented staff and the benefits of the location geographically. Longbridge is now firmly on the map of leading places to locate growing business and we look forward to that momentum continuing.”

Elliot Sellars, Development Director at St. Modwen

We are really excited to progress with this application that represents a significant investment for our business. After carefully considering a range of options throughout the country we felt that Longbridge provided the perfect environment to meet our immediate business objectives as well as those for the next decade and beyond. We are very much looking forward to a long-term future for Waters at Longbridge.”

Stephen Moore, Facilities Manager at Waters