Innovation Centre Bolstered by Over £2 million

Redditch Borough Council received news last week (20 Jan) that they had successfully been awarded additional funding for the Innovation Centre development.

The funding has been secured from the Enterprise Zone Regeneration Investment Fund (EZRIF) to a total of £2,425,000 thanks to the transformative nature of the project taking place on the former police station site in the centre of the town.

Leader of Redditch Borough Council, Cllr. Sharon Harvey, said: “The Innovation Centre is an opportunity for businesses, not only in Redditch but from the surrounding areas. With workshops, offices, amenities, and business support services there will be a unique opportunity for local people to springboard their businesses to the next level in a supportive and collaborative environment. To have over £2 million in confirmed funding is another exciting step on the path towards opening its doors.”

The EZRIF support will allow the Council to progress essential activity required to complete the project.

The awarded money is part of a wider £20 million commitment made by the Greater Brimingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) in 2014 to support the eight local authorities included in their area. The EZRIF programme and commitments were honoured when the GBSLEP was transferred to Birmingham City Council in 2023.

The EZRIF was designed to ensure that all local authorities in the GBSLEP region could share in the success of the Enterprise Zone, contributing to the wider regional economy. Providing targeted funding to stimulate development, attract investment, and create jobs.

Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Sharon Thompson, said: “This is really good news for businesses and residents in Redditch and the surrounding area. It demonstrates how Birmingham’s growth and the success of the Enterprise Zone are driving wider economic opportunity right across the region.”

The Innovation Centre will be a state-of-the-art facility, designed as a launch pad for businesses to develop, innovate, and grow. Offering a mix of high-quality office space, laboratory and workshop spaces, and complimentary business support services. Shared amenities, such as a café and networking areas, will create a collaborative environment designed to nurture expertise and attract new investment into the Borough.

The project is a central part of the Council’s wider regeneration programme for the town centre.

Work is scheduled to begin in Summer 2026. Doors are expected to open to business by the end of 2027.