community
MAKING GREAT PROGRESS
We’re thrilled to provide you with the latest updates on this major regeneration project at the former James Bridge Copper Works, where we’re transforming 44 acres of land in to a logistics and manufacturing hub.
Fantastic progress is being made across the site, with earthworks continuing at pace whilst our contractors make former underground structures safe and clean up the ground ready for future construction.
Since the beginning of the project we have excavated almost 850,000 tonnes of soils and concrete, which have been processed on site. We have around 420,000 tonnes left to excavate and process for re-use.
We’re also committed to community engagement, with more on our latest local activities overleaf.
You may have noticed new promotional features around the site as well, showcasing our new SPARK name and branding. Hoarding and signage now complements our new website sparkwalsall.co.uk and we’ve got more to come as the site continues to evolve.
LATEST UPDATES
Outline planning permission for SPARK Walsall was granted in April 2021, and we’ve been working since then to satisfy planning conditions to ensure we deliver the best possible development.
As part of this post-approval work, we have also submitted further details for specific parts of the site. These are known as Reserved Matters and we’re delighted to confirm we’ll be submitting an application featuring more detailed designs for units A, B and G shown here on the drawing.
The application is expected to be with the council in October and public notices with more information will be available at the time of submission.
ENGAGING THE
NEXT GENERATION
Whether visiting our site and meeting our contractors, or presenting to people at a school or college, we love being able to help inspire the next generation of property and construction industry professionals.
We recently talked to Year 7 pupils at West Walsall E-ACT Academy, where we were joined at assembly by SPARK project team members to discuss career paths and the ways in which our jobs apply to the development next to the school.
Our contractors have also been giving back locally, with John F Hunt welcoming Construction Multi‑Skills students to the site from Walsall College and joining us to visit Joseph Leckie Academy during work experience week, where we gave presentations to 60 year 10 students.
Hopefully we’ve been able to show just how much possibility there is in the industry for long, rewarding and creatively challenging careers.
We’re also proud to confirm that four people from the local area have been employed at the SPARK site in the last three months.
A word from…
COUNCILLOR
ADRIAN ANDREW
DEPUTY LEADER AND PORTFOLIO HOLDER
FOR REGENERATION AT WALSALL COUNCIL
“SPARK is a really exciting development for Walsall and presents a huge opportunity for logistics and manufacturing businesses to position themselves in the heart of the Black Country. The potential to attract new investment into the borough and create hundreds of jobs for local people makes SPARK one of our most exciting regeneration projects. SPARK is one of many big developments happening across the borough due to substantial investment from funds including the Towns Fund and Levelling Up fund. Sitting alongside other major projects, including the development of over two million square foot of business floorspace, major improvements to M6 Junction 10 and the development of over 1000 new affordable homes, SPARK is a key part of Walsall’s exciting transformation.”
LOCAL JOBS, TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES
HBD works across a diverse range of sectors, but all our projects share our goal of creating places with purpose.
SPARK can power your potential, and as our biggest industrial & logistics project in the Midlands, there are lots of opportunities to grow your skills and develop a career with us or our partners.
Approximately 40 people currently employed at the site live less than 20 miles away, and last year we attended the Pleck Jobs Fair, speaking to students and adults about careers in property development and construction.
During March, our contractor attended the Walsall Careers fair at the University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall campus and we’re also looking forward to building on our relationship with our neighbour, West Walsall E-ACT Academy, with plans underway to visit and speak to students in the near future.
In the community
JANE LANE SCHOOL ALLOTMENT
Giving back and being part of the community is very important to us here at HBD. Members of our team recently joined pupils at Jane Lane School in Walsall, helping them with weeding and clearing their overgrown allotment to enable them to plant and grow vegetables.
The school specialises in delivering SEND education and our team were shown how to get stuck in by some fabulous year 10 and 11 students, as you can see in the pictures.
Browse our seasonal newsletter archive here
TALK TO US
If you ever have any requests, questions or concerns during the works, you can contact our community affairs team on 08000 356 480 or email hello@sparkwalsall.co.uk.
