Severn Trent Services joins other global operators in a move to Birch Coppice Business Park

10 November 2008

IM Properties' Birch Coppice Business Park has secured its second blue chip occupier in the past six months as leading supplier of water and wastewater treatment solutions Severn Trent Services follows global freight forwarder CEVA to the M42 motorway location at Junction 10 near Tamworth.

Severn Trent Services, a member of Severn Trent Plc was formed from the parent company's acquisition programme of companies in the UK and the USA and retains its global head office in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, USA.

A purpose built 19,000 sq ft (1,765 m2) two storey facility close to the entrance of the high profile 400 acre (161 ha) Birch Coppice Business Park is destined to become the head office for Severn Trent Water Purification Europe a division of Severn Trent Services. The new facility will become home to a 70 strong workforce which will transfer from the company's existing site at Minworth on the eastern outskirts of Birmingham.

At a recent ground breaking ceremony Severn Trent Services' marketing manager Fran House said "Our search for a location for a development site for a bespoke facility providing a higher than average office content alongside warehouse space was overlaid by the requirement for excellent central transport communications. The factor of our local employee legacy in skills and experience was paramount. Birch Coppice met that criterion."

Other global organisations already established at Birch Coppice Business Park include CEVA Logistics, UPS the world's largest overnight parcel carrier and Roadways Container Logistics (RCL) a subsidiary of Maersk one of the top container freight shipping lines in the world. The on site rail connected Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal (BIFT) is operated by RCL and currently handles six daily train movements from UK docks.

With only three development plots remaining on the first phase of Birch Coppice, Birmingham property agents Eagleton & Company acting for client IM Properties are currently measuring demand for a further phase to create design and build opportunities up to 120 acres (48ha) with rail served options.