Prospero Ansty, 2.3 million sq ft manufacturing hub, is at the centre of the UK’s manufacturing heartland
Discussions around electric vehicles (EVs) is proving a popular topic at the moment, to note a recent Telegraph article that focused on EV battery production, and how it could be the saviour of UK automotive. The UK is lagging behind neighbouring France and Germany in the production of EVs.
It is extremely important for the UK to have EV factories, most importantly to protect our environment, but also to protect our existing automotive jobs and to create thousands of new jobs.
According to the Telegraph: “Demand for EV battery production in the UK is expected to reach 130GWh per year by 2040, equating to roughly eight gigafactories with production capacities of 15 GWh.”
The UK needs to invest in building large scale manufacturing plants for EV batteries. If batteries go out of the UK, automotive production in the UK will follow. This in turn will result in hundreds of thousands of job losses.
Coventry and the wider region have a strong manufacturing and engineering heritage, which can be seen by the number of associated businesses based in the area. The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry, aims to work together with industry and academia to develop ways of getting out the lab and into commercial production.
Manse Opus’ development, Prospero Ansty, located east of Coventry, will provide over 2.3 million sq ft of advanced manufacturing, research and office accommodation and would be the ideal location for EV production.
The site is at the centre of the UK’s manufacturing heartland and is ideally placed for advanced manufacturing and industry; there are 30 automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer vehicle brands with headquarters in the area; there are 400,000 people employed in advanced manufacturing in Coventry and Warwickshire; and 10% of all UK automotive jobs are in the area.
The scheme has already attracted multinational business to the park such as Meggitt PLC, a global leader in the aerospace industry. Planning was secured for Meggitt’s new 490,000 sq ft HQ facility in April 2018.
To find out more about Prospero, Ansty visit the website.
RETAIL: Stove Works Retail Park, Royal Leamington Spa
Opus Land and Savills Investment Management purchased a brownfield site, which was formerly a Ford Factory car park and obtained planning for a 60,000 sq. ft retail space, located just 0.5 miles from the town centre and 15 minutes’ walk from the train station.
INDUSTRIAL: Prospero, Ansty
Together with their joint venture partner, Manse LLP, and on behalf of Rolls-Royce, Opus Land are delivering more than 2 million sq. ft of space at Prospero, Ansty, starting with a 490,000 sq. ft manufacturing facility for Meggitt PLC.
WAREHOUSE: Conneqt Alpha
Opus Land and Bridges completed an 153,800 sq. ft unit with 16 loading doors at the Kingwood Lakeside Business Park in Cannock.
OFFICES: 54 Hagley Road, Birmingham
A 160,950 sq. ft multi-let office, three miles from Birmingham city centre which underwent a comprehensive refurbishment programme by Opus Land and was sold for £24.25m.
