The Government announced in February 2022 that Wolverhampton and Sheffield would be the first of 20 cities to benefit from part of £1.5billion of Levelling Up funding for new infrastructure to be developed on brownfield land to boost housing and jobs.

The aim of the Green Innovation Corridor is to build on Wolverhampton’s growth as a centre for sustainable construction and create skilled jobs for local people in the emerging green economy.

It will focus on creating high-value jobs in specialist sectors, support student retention, harness home-grown talent, develop new opportunities for business investment and growth, and leverage private sector funding.

Phase one of the Green Innovation Corridor is the Springfield Innovation Hub to be developed net carbon zero and based at the University of Wolverhampton’s £120million Springfield site – an architecture and built environment super-campus.

It will see the development of around 90,000sqft of commercial innovation floorspace over three units for business growth and start-ups and will be built around the epicentre of the National Centre for Sustainable Construction, with the creation of over 300 jobs.

The long-term vision is to connect key city assets at the Springfield Campus with Wolverhampton Science Park and link the city centre with the advanced manufacturing cluster in the north of Wolverhampton.

It will stimulate wider regeneration along the corridor by acting as a catalyst for additional private sector investment in the Science Park, unlocking brownfield sites for the development of sustainable and affordable housing, and improving the city’s green spaces and canalside areas.

Green Innovation Corridor future redevelopment phases include ‘Six Mile Green’ at Wolverhampton Science Park and Cross Street North, which will offer the potential to regenerate over 6.4hectares of brownfield land, create 250,000sqft of commercial space and more than 1,000 jobs.

Six Mile Green – named after the 1862 world record for the highest vertical ascent in a hot air balloon launched from the site – will see the construction of units for new business start-ups and innovation, while the Cross Street North site will see new housing and commercial development and public spaces.

City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Ian Brookfield, said: “The City of Wolverhampton’s vision for the Green Innovation Corridor will drive the Green Industrial Revolution, building upon Wolverhampton’s sustainable construction, green credentials and circular economy for transformation that will create quality jobs for local people.

“We are a bold and ambitious city with a track record of delivery. The city council, working with public and private sector partners, makes a real difference to residents and businesses. However, the impact of Covid-19 has hit Wolverhampton hard and exacerbated existing social and economic challenges.

“This bid for £20million will help us deliver the Green Innovation Corridor linking the city’s key assets in skills, research and high-end manufacturing; building upon the strengths of the National Centre for Sustainable Construction and Wolverhampton Science Park.”

A decision on Levelling Up Round 2 funding allocations is expected to be announced this October.