Work on engineering company’s new UK HQ moves forward following WMCA backing
Midlands: Work is moving forward on a new UK headquarters in the Black Country for international engineering firm Sandvik Coromant following a £5m investment by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, visited the site of the new headquarters off Manor Way, Halesowen to see first-hand how work is progressing on the project which will also create a new, high-tech innovation hub for metal cutting.
The investment is the latest from the WMCA’s nationally acclaimed, devolved housing and regeneration programme which is providing new homes, jobs and commercial floorspace across the West Midlands, helping the region’s economic recovery from Covid 19.
Sandvik Coromant employees, currently based in an old office and warehouse located elsewhere on the company’s existing site in Manor Way, will transfer over to the new 18,000sqft, sustainable headquarters once it is completed by developer Stoford at the end of 2022.
The old buildings will then be demolished and the land, subject to planning permission, redeveloped for housing.
The Mayor said: “Sandvik Coromant has a rich history based in the Black Country, and I am really pleased that the WMCA has been able to put its cash on the table to help that story continue.
“Not only is this another brilliant example of how the WMCA prioritises brownfield land for regeneration to create new local jobs, but it also shows how serious we are about tackling the climate emergency and reaching our #WM2041 goal.
“Sustainable developments are key to making this happen, and with its solar panels, EV charging points, and rainwater harvesting technology, Sandvik Coromant’s new headquarters is exactly the kind of sustainable design we need.”
During his visit, the Mayor heard how in addition to providing a high-tech work space, the new headquarters will also act as a hub for manufacturing innovation and customer interactions, forming part of the established Sandvik Coromant Center global network.
Sandvik Coromant has been based in Manor Way since 1958 but its new offices will feature 21st century technology featuring solar roof panels, rainwater harvesting and 26 EV car charging points. It will also have the capacity to offer EV charging for all 130 parking spaces in the future.
“The facility revamp has been a long time coming,” said David Harbon, UK sales director at Sandvik Coromant. “While we found our current space was no longer suitable for our needs, this new facility will be fully future-proofed.
“Not only will the cutting-edge, eco-friendly site offer an elevated experience for our UK staff, but we’re transforming the site into more than just an office space. Customers, both current and future, will be able to immerse themselves into the Sandvik Coromant experience, and will receive a world-leading level of support. Our ambition is to create a true innovation hub for metal cutting in the UK.”
Angus Huntley, director at Stoford, added: “We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Sandvik Coromant, the WMCA and Frontier Development Capital to deliver this new headquarters building in Halesowen. We are developing a modern, energy efficient facility with strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) credentials that will retain many high-quality jobs in the West Midlands.”
Cllr Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio holder for housing and land and leader of Walsall Council, said: “This scheme is another example of how the West Midlands is leading the UK on brownfield regeneration, breathing new life into industrial sites and surrounding areas to deliver jobs, business and prosperity for the region while helping to protect the Green Belt.
“Despite the economic impact of the pandemic, WMCA investments have continued to flow to help put in place the building blocks required to drive the region’s post-Covid-19 economic recovery plans.”
Access to the WMCA funding was provided by the Property Team at Frontier Development Capital Ltd (FDC). FDC continues to work closely with property developers to arrange investments from the WMCA’s Collective Investment Fund (CIF) and Revolving Investment Fund (RIF).
