A specialist warehouse and logistics company has committed to supporting a £2 billion development programme in the West Midlands.
Segro, which develops, owns and manages industrial properties, has become a strategic partner of the West Midlands Combined Authority which is aiming to deliver the next generation of net-zero warehouse facilities across the region.
Segro said it wanted to build 13.5 million sq ft of sustainable warehouse space across the West Midlands by the end of 2033, focused on tech-enabled logistics facilities as well as purpose-built space for R&D and light manufacturing.
The development programme is expected to create up to 14,000 jobs across a wide range of employment types and industries.
The investment will be focused on a mix of warehousing types across the region which includes the development of Segro Park Coventry - a 450-acre site that has planning permission for the construction of 3.7 million square feet of industrial buildings and warehouses.
Segro said it also planned to develop around 2,700 electric vehicle charging points at its developments across the region.
The ten-year programme includes plans for skills and training programmes to support 5,000 local young people into employment and provide a further 1,000 apprenticeship opportunities in construction.
The company also said it anticipated the creation of a dedicated industrial and logistics training and job brokerage programme which aims to help 1,500 disadvantaged residents in the region to develop the skills to secure employment with Segro's customers.
To coincide with becoming a strategic partner of the combined authority, Segro has also announced that it is relocating its national logistics business unit to Coventry city centre.
Chief executive David Sleath said: "There is a long-term shortage of modern, sustainable industrial employment space in the West Midlands which is vital to enable the efficient movement of goods across the country and to support high-tech R&D and manufacturing.
"By working closely with the West Midlands Combined Authority, we can identify and unlock brownfield sites for development and deliver critical infrastructure that serves the whole of the UK, creating a diverse mix of local employment and supporting the creation of a more resilient economy across the country.
"We look forward to working with West Midlands Combined Authority, local authorities, businesses and communities in the West Midlands to accelerate our investment in the region and deliver best-in-class, next-generation warehousing."
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street added: "Segro becoming a strategic partner is another welcome vote of confidence in our region and the investment programme they have committed to is testament to their level of belief in a bright future ahead for the West Midlands.
"It is exactly this kind of private sector investment, combined with the public sector creating the right conditions, that will ultimately drive our prosperity in the months and years ahead."
