Major Projects - Walsall Gigaport

Potentially the most significant of the strategic transformational projects within the WRC portfolio, Walsall Gigaport could over time create up to 3,200 jobs, while retaining and attracting new commercial enterprises to the town.

Approval of the outline planning application in October 2008 was a key milestone for this ambitious initiative that will establish Walsall and the West Midlands as a leader in the operation and development of IT related services.

The Walsall Gigaport ‘corridor’ occupies some 23-hectares near the town centre, centred around the new Walsall College, straddling the new Ring Road and all within 10 minutes walk of the railway station.

The establishment of a ‘next generation broadband’ platform, utilising fibre optic technology, will enable companies to do business 120 times faster than ordinary broadband speeds. This will make Gigaport attractive to innovative start-up companies in sectors such as digital content creation, software development and IT-related services, as well as major national and international players involved in the financial, media and healthcare sectors.

The benefits will also ‘spill out’ into the community, with the capability to provide enhanced interactive services-to-the-home, as well as promoting e-learning and online access in addition to access to 21st century healthcare services.

The outline planning permission is for 127,000 sq m of high quality offices, including a Business Incubation Centre; a 4,000 sq m data centre, a 4,000 sq m hotel, 23,000 sq m of live / work space and a 6,000 sq m health and sports facility, all forming the first steps in this £400 million investment and development opportunity.

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