'The launch of The Central Edge is a momentous occasion for Wolverhampton' city leaders hail £580m economic growth zone

The initiative, announced at UKREiiF by Wolverhampton Council, Staffordshire County Council and South Staffordshire Council, promises significant opportunities for economic growth and job creation in the region.

The Central Edge unites Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor (GIC) with key logistics and advanced manufacturing locations in South Staffordshire, building upon the success of the advanced manufacturing hub at i54.The GIC, a vital component of the vision, will connect the university’s Springfield Campus with its Science Park and extend northwards to i54. 

The corridor aims to foster new development opportunities and incubation spaces, with an emphasis on green construction, computing and engineering – crucial elements in supporting the advanced manufacturing sector's transition to net zero.

The Central Edge programme is projected to generate a Growth Value Added of £582 million and encompasses a substantial 16.4 million sq ft of development land, with the potential to create an estimated 14,700 jobs.

Ceri Jones, director of research and innovation at the University of Wolverhampton, said: "The launch of The Central Edge is a momentous occasion for Wolverhampton and the wider region.

"The University of Wolverhampton is proud to be a key partner in the Green Innovation Corridor, which will act as a catalyst for innovation, skills development, and economic prosperity.

"By connecting our Springfield Campus and Science Park with i54, we are creating a dynamic ecosystem that will drive growth in green technologies and advanced manufacturing, directly contributing to the net zero agenda and creating high-value jobs for our communities.

"The university is identified as a crucial partner in attracting further investment into The Central Edge, alongside other key stakeholders such as Logistics Capital Partners and developer Indurent.

The success of i54, which has attracted £1 billion in investment and houses major players like Jaguar Land Rover and Moog, provides a strong foundation for new economic growth zone.

Councillor Chris Burden, Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for city development, jobs and skills, said: “Central Edge will be a transformational economic growth zone across Wolverhampton and Staffordshire.

“It is a once in a generation proposition building on the success of the UK’s most successful enterprise zone, i54, and the university’s support as a key partner in this joint venture will help us deliver positive results.

“The Central Edge will be an international exemplar area for innovation, green economy, advanced manufacturing and logistics, delivering good transformative growth at scale and pace and creating thousands of jobs.”