ONE of Worcestershire’s most ambitious industrial and office schemes – the £70 million, 1,500 job Redditch Gateway – has taken a step closer to becoming reality with the appointment of commercial property developers Stoford.

Marketing will now begin on the 70-acre site after the Birmingham-based firm was appointed as development partner to work alongside the two landowners, The Gorcott Trust and the Homes and Community Agency.

The development could create more than 1,500 jobs as accommodation of more than one million sq ft – including industrial and warehouse units alongside office space – is delivered. The planning application is expected to be submitted in September and infrastructure work could begin as early as summer 2016, with the first phase of development earmarked for completion in early 2017.

Gary Woodman, executive director of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Redditch Gateway is one of four key employment sites, also known as gamechanger sites, in Worcestershire that provide a wealth of commercial opportunities and will hugely benefit the county’s economy.

“It is therefore good news for Worcestershire that the important step has been taken in the appointment of property developers, Stoford. We look forward to working with them to bring forward the first development on the site.”