27-Wolverhampton Development Company Development, future opportunities and investment News 020708

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One great city of opportunity - vision for Wolverhampton revealed by Wolverhampton Development Company

30,000 new jobs to be created by 2031

A new era of economic and social well being for Wolverhampton was revealed today by Wolverhampton Development Company (WDC) with the news that 30,000 new jobs will be created by 2031.

Formed in 2007, WDC’s mission is to increase the pace, scale and quality of growth opportunities to create a sustainable and prosperous future for the City’s 236,900 people. Today saw the launch of WDC’s vision for how Wolverhampton will emerge as one of the most successful cities of the 21st century.

More than 100 business and civic leaders gathered at the City’s historic Chubb building to learn how, within the next three years, WDC’s approach will ensure that Wolverhampton is on track to become one great city of opportunity. WDC outlined its triple-pronged role as the following:

To ensure the delivery of significant high quality development/investment opportunities
To identify future opportunities
To promote the city to would–be investors and their advisors.
Stephen Catchpole is Chief Executive of WDC, “We’re absolutely clear that our most important task is to help attract and grow businesses to create the growth required to provide 30,000 new jobs by 2031.

“Launched today, our three year plan sets out how we’re 100% dedicated to working in partnership with others and by doing so become their partner of choice to bring about one great city of opportunity.”

Graham Mackenzie is Chairman of WDC, “Wolverhampton already has many attributes: an enviable central location, superb transport links, an excellent university and college, and world-class businesses, to name but a few. We’re urging developers and investors to get in touch to explore how they may benefit from the 17,000 acres of dynamic city that Wolverhampton offers.”

Central to achieving the vision for the City is the successful development of i54, the flagship technology–based park adjacent to Junction 2 of the M54, and the creation of a significantly enhanced office market in the city centre.

Key activities in WDC’s delivery programme include undertaking an assessment of the city centre office market, producing masterplans for the Stafford Road Corridor and the Canalside Quarter and participation in the preparation of economic development and transport infrastructure plans.

Additionally, bids to partners for £42m of capital funding for the three year period are to be made to lever in some £345m of private sector investment.

The launch event also saw the premiere of a promotional video commissioned by WDC for Wolverhampton entitled, ‘City of Opportunity’. The three-minute production features footage and computer generated graphics that outline the city’s existing assets and future developments. WDC is encouraging its use by public and private sector organisations to champion the city at every opportunity.

In addition, WDC showcased a 3D animation which illustrates how the city will be physically transformed over the next three and 15 years. The computer generated ‘model build up’ takes the viewer on a journey around the city centre and features developments such as the new public transport hub, Interchange, the Summer Row retail centre and Victoria Hall’s student residential village including a landmark 25-storey tower.

As well as being urged to be involved in the future success of the city, the attendees at today’s launch also enjoyed a speech by Richard Simmons, Chief Executive of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) on the importance of place. As the government’s advisor for architecture, urban design and public space, CABE is uniquely positioned to improve the quality of people’s lives through good design.