St Francis Group wins multi-million pound grant to develop major Walsall logistics scheme

Commercial developer St Francis Group has won grant funding from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver a new, speculative 113,000 sq ft warehouse logistics scheme in Walsall which could create 200 new jobs.

The site at Darlaston Road, branded as Parallel 113, sits within the Black Country Enterprise Zone on a 2.5 hectares brownfield site close to Junction 10 of the M6. Construction is set to commence in March.

The development was given the green light by Walsall Council’s Planning Committee in autumn 2020 and is being developed speculatively. When occupied the scheme will provide up to 200 new jobs.

St Francis Group development director Gareth Williams welcomed the multi-million pound award which he said will move construction of the Parallel 113 scheme a stage closer.

He added: “There is a chronic shortage of mid-box sized logistics accommodation currently right across the West Midlands conurbation and this development will go some way to addressing that.

“The building will be constructed to a Grade A standard and specification and ideally suited to a range of flexible occupier requirements. We are already fielding a strong level of interest and look forward to further announcements in due course.”

Speaking about the development, deputy leader of Walsall Council, Cllr Adrian Andrew said: “This decision allows us to move forward with a scheme that will provide valuable jobs and a welcome boost to the local economy.

“The council and its partners have invested a great deal of effort to get to this stage and I look forward to work beginning on site in the near future.

“This is another piece in the jigsaw of building back better in our Borough. Walsall is open for business and a great place to invest.”