SVR link hope over new business park

The Severn Valley Railway heritage line could be extended as a commuter link with a major new business park planned for the former British Sugar site near Kidderminster, it has been revealed.

Developers hope to bring a former station near the site back into use. They say the rail link would provide hundreds of workers and students with easy access from Kidderminster. Developers Cill Dara Property Partnership are now holding talks with councillors, officials and other interested parties.

They want to find how the site could best be developed to create hundreds of jobs.

The plans could include a link-up with a nearby university to set up a satellite college where students could be trained to link-in with new technology companies.

The site, which is spread over more than 60 acres, is accessed from the Stourport Road but it is recognised that there is already a heavy build up of traffic along the road, particularly during peak periods.

Peter Burford, spokesman for Cill Dara Property, based in the Isle of Man, said: "We are negotiating to ensure we meet Wyre Forest District Council's vision for the site and also to get new companies and jobs which will stay in the district.

"Transport is one of the issues we have been discussing and we would like to investigate further the possible option to reinstate the Foley Park Halt on the Severn Valley Railway line.

"The key thing will be access to the site and reopening this stop would provide workers with easy access from Kidderminster.

"We are hoping to hold talks with the Severn Valley Railway about this but development of the first phase of the site is not expected to be completed for two years."

Redevelopment of the entire site is not expected to be completed for ten years.

The new station would be about two miles from Kidderminster, which is the headquarters and terminus of the steam line which runs 16-miles to Bridgnorth.

Foley Park Halt had remained in use until the line closed on January 6, 1970.