ADVANTAGE West Midlands has purchased a site in Worcestershire for the latest development of the A38 technology corridor.

The former Garrington's site, in Aston Fields Industrial Estate, Bromsgrove, has been earmarked as an area for hi-tech industrial development within the West Midlands.

The Birmingham/Worcestershire corridor is aimed at creating new skills and employment in the aftermath of massive job losses at Rover Longbridge.

It is designed to make sure the region is not as heavily dependent on the automotive industry in the future.

Members of Worcestershire County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Panel met yesterday and reacted positively to the latest development.

"This is a good proposal and employment plan and hopefully a large number of hi-tech companies will invest in this part of the corridor," said Alwyn Davies, economic development and regeneration portfolio holder.

Mr Davies said the total size of the industrial site was 70 acres, roughly 16 acres of which will be set aside for housing and the rest for technological development and investment.

Although no specific companies were mentioned for the site, the 20- year strategy is focusing on nanotechnology, medical science and other emerging technologies.

The corridor is centred on Birmingham and Aston universities in the north and Malvern Hills Science Park, QineticQ and DERA in the south, loosely following the A38 in-between.

Worcestershire County Council and Malvern Hills District Council are working closely with Advantage West Midlands to attract projects to the corridor and create a cluster of related industries.

"What has been developed so far has been fully let, so there is definitely the need to go into this further," said Mr Davies.

The county council is now beginning to investigate further sites to expand the corridor across Worcestershire.

ADVANTAGE West Midlands has purchased a site in Worcestershire for the latest development of the A38 technology corridor.

The former Garrington's site, in Aston Fields Industrial Estate, Bromsgrove, has been earmarked as an area for hi-tech industrial development within the West Midlands.

The Birmingham/Worcestershire corridor is aimed at creating new skills and employment in the aftermath of massive job losses at Rover Longbridge.

It is designed to make sure the region is not as heavily dependent on the automotive industry in the future.

Members of Worcestershire County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Panel met yesterday and reacted positively to the latest development.

"This is a good proposal and employment plan and hopefully a large number of hi-tech companies will invest in this part of the corridor," said Alwyn Davies, economic development and regeneration portfolio holder.

Mr Davies said the total size of the industrial site was 70 acres, roughly 16 acres of which will be set aside for housing and the rest for technological development and investment.

Although no specific companies were mentioned for the site, the 20- year strategy is focusing on nanotechnology, medical science and other emerging technologies.

The corridor is centred on Birmingham and Aston universities in the north and Malvern Hills Science Park, QineticQ and DERA in the south, loosely following the A38 in-between.

Worcestershire County Council and Malvern Hills District Council are working closely with Advantage West Midlands to attract projects to the corridor and create a cluster of related industries.

"What has been developed so far has been fully let, so there is definitely the need to go into this further," said Mr Davies.

The county council is now beginning to investigate further sites to expand the corridor across Worcestershire.