Construction has commenced at GreenPower Park in Coventry, positioned on the former Coventry Airport grounds.
Coventry City Council and Rigby Group are collaborating in this public-private venture to establish a centre for advanced manufacturing, battery technology and clean energy across the 308-acre location.
Planning consent covers as much as 5.7 million square feet of industrial development, targeting the creation of thousands of positions and an injection of £2.5bn into the local economy.
Preliminary works to connect the site to a dedicated National Grid power supply have commenced. Matrix Networks and Ashwell Construction are constructing a new primary sub-station, made feasible through £23m funding from Mayor Richard Parker and the West Midlands Combined Authority’s flagship Investment Zone programme.
Specialists in archaeology and environmental matters have been engaged to satisfy planning requirements. Archaeological work should conclude by November this year, after which environmental consultants will assess the site before groundworks commence.
Agreements have also been signed for the demolition of disused airport structures, with completion expected by the third quarter of 2027.
Mike Murray, project director at GreenPower Park, said following the airport’s closure in June the team is pressing ahead to prepare the site for occupation. Planning consents are in place and the development is ready to connect to the National Grid. This will enable the potential delivery of a new manufacturing facility within 18 months of an occupier signing up. Additionally, a package of financial incentives has been assembled with backing from the West Midlands Combined Authority and government to attract investors and ensure a straightforward process from initial discussions through to occupation.
Cllr Lynnette Kelly, deputy leader and cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change at Coventry City Council, stated that battery technology clearly represents the future, making the start of works on site highly encouraging. Coventry is the sole location in the UK prepared to proceed immediately, with planning consent granted, investor support packages available and the crucial grid connection secured. The UK must compete on a global level or face being left behind and this site makes that possible. Coventry, the wider region and the entire UK require quality employment that builds upon the area’s strong manufacturing traditions while leading the green industrial revolution, which is fundamentally what this development represents.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, stated that breaking ground at GreenPower Park marks a significant step in the strategy to position the region at the forefront of global battery manufacturing and innovation. This also brings thousands more quality jobs in one of the fastest-growing sectors closer to reality. Using Investment Zone funding to prepare this site is generating strong interest from international investors who share this vision and wish to establish operations here.
GreenPower Park has planning consent for industrial units spanning from 69,000 square feet to 5.7 million square feet, with some of the largest approved footprints currently accessible in the UK. Leasehold or freehold options are available through letting agents CBRE.