Harris Lamb seeks development partners for former British Sugar factory site 25th July 2012

Property consultancy Harris Lamb is looking to establish development partners for a major redevelopment of the former British Sugar factory site, Silverwoods, in Kidderminster, Midlands.

Silverwoods, which is owned by the St Francis Group, was given the green light by planners at Wyre Forest District Council earlier this month for a re-development scheme combining residential, leisure and retail use over a 74-acre site..

St Francis Group’s plans for the site, located on Stourport Road, have been described as one of the most important development opportunities in North Worcestershire for more than 25 years, and the group has worked closely with the council to shape the proposal with a view to rejuvenating the neglected site and surrounding area without causing harm to the town or local centre’s existing retail opportunities.

Matthew Pegg, of Harris Lamb’s retail agency, said: “The Silverwoods development is one of the biggest opportunities the region has seen in more than two decades. It’s a huge site, which after extensive investment and planning will provide scope for new employment, retail, residential and leisure use in the area.

“Phase one plans include 200 residential units, a destination pub, retail units, a care home and medical centre, as well as a new railway halt along the Severn Valley route. It is anticipated that Silverwoods will create around 400 new jobs in the region.

“Along with joint agents Colliers CRE, Harris Lamb has been retained to establish occupiers and developers for the site and, now that planning permission has been achieved, we can really focus our energies to progress this.

British Sugar closed its Kidderminster operation in 2004 and the former sugar beet processing and production plant was acquired in 2006.

The redevelopment is part of the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park.

Support has included the offer of a £1.2m loan from Worcestershire LEP and a similar loan from the Birmingham & Solihull LEP from the Government’s Growing Places Fund.