AN AMBITIOUS bid to create thousands of new jobs and attract millions of pounds of investment into Kidderminster has been launched by regeneration chiefs.

South Kidderminster Enterprise Park is one of six Worcestershire areas that have been included in an application to create an Enterprise Zone in the county.

The bid, submitted by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership to the Department for Communities and Local Government, is looking to create 25,000 new jobs and provide a £2.9billion boost to the economy by 2025.

Other sites included in the proposed Enterprise Zone are Redditch Eastern Gateway, Worcester Six Technology Park, University Park in Worcester, Malvern Hills Science Park and Malvern Technology Centre and Vale Park Food Enterprise Zone.

South Kidderminster Enterprise Park is based on the Silverwoods site off Stourport Road and has seen significant investment in recent years.

The area is covered by the Local Development Order that enables businesses to develop without the need for planning permission.

It was originally set up for three years but the LDO was extended until 2018 earlier this year having seen more than 40,000 sq ft of new business premises created, worth over £20m in inward investment.

Wyre Forest District Council has identified a number of vacant Brownfield sites at Silverwoods to be included in the bid and build on the investment that has already come in.

Wyre Forest District Council Leader Marcus Hart said: "We have suggested some cleared sites within the SKEP at Silverwoods, as part of a wider Worcestershire bid by the LEP.

“Benefits for businesses are things like business rate relief for up to 5 years.

“We already have our Local Development Order in place which means companies don't have to obtain planning permission and we believe these measures demonstrate that we are open for business in Wyre Forest and economic regeneration is a key priority for us."