More than £1.7m has been allocated to the construction of an access road to the UK’s first low and zero emission refuelling station at Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham, helping to create more than 135 jobs.
The money has been granted by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) towards the £3.5m cost.
The new road – together with a crossing over the River Cole – will enable HGVs, buses, taxis and vans to access the new low and zero emission refuelling hub from the A45 Small Heath Highway in south east Birmingham.
The development, owned by Webster & Horsfall and Birmingham City Council, forms part of the city’s plans to address the reduction of emissions to improve air quality and create a low emission re-fuelling infrastructure.
The construction of the access road will see the creation of more than 135 jobs at companies linked to Tyseley Energy Park.
It will attract up to five new businesses at the site and generate an increase in investment into Tyseley and the Eastern Corridor between Birmingham and Solihull.
Chris Loughran, deputy chairman of GBSLEP, said: “Tyseley Energy Park, located fewer than three miles from Birmingham city centre, will provide companies with better access to fuels that are more environmentally friendly.
“GBSLEP’s investment reflects our commitment to growing the region’s energy sector, which has real potential to generate new jobs and bring more investment here.
“The new access road is more than just a connection between Small Heath Highway and Tyseley Energy Park.
“Making this important site easier to reach will help to attract more energy businesses to the Greater Birmingham and Solihull area, create new apprenticeships and training facilities for our young people, and contribute to the future success of our regional economy.”
The 16-acre Tyseley Energy Park is located within the Tyseley Environment Enterprise District, and has been earmarked as one of the West Midlands’ first four Energy Innovation Zones.
Ian MacLeod, assistant director for planning and regeneration at Birmingham City Council, said: “Tyseley Energy Park represents a hugely significant milestone in the work we are doing to tackle air pollution in Birmingham, providing a low and zero-emission refuelling hub for a range of vehicles, including the fleet of hydrogen-fuelled buses we will be piloting next year.
“I am delighted that we have been able to work with our partners to take this exciting project forward, bringing in valuable investment and, crucially, ensuring that we have the infrastructure in place to put cleaner, greener vehicles on our roads.”
The total cost of the civils work for the low and zero carbon refuelling station is £3.8m.
The remaining £2.1m has been sourced privately and construction of the access road will be completed in December.
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