Warwickshire News Mine

The Redundant Building Grant Scheme - funded by Advantage West Midlands, and managed in partnership between Warwickshire County Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council - supports businesses to convert or refurbish buildings in to a wide range of commercial uses including offices, retail outlets, light manufacturing and leisure.

Wootton Park Business Centre at Wootton Wawen was the first in the county to be awarded a grant from this scheme, which has already contributed to 15 projects across the region, creating and safeguarding 220 jobs in rural communities.

The business centre comprises a diverse range of former agricultural buildings, converted to modern offices. The grant from the Redundant Building Grant scheme has contributed to the costs of converting the final two offices on site, and will aid the creation of facilities for meetings and small conferences.

A plaque has been presented by Cllr Chris Saint, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, and Darren Cope, Partnership Manager at Advantage West Midlands, to the owner of Wootton Park Business Centre to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the project and the grant contribution.

Cllr Saint said: “We’re very pleased with the success of the scheme at Wootton Park Business Centre so far and the opportunities created for rural communities like this one.  I would urge any other businesses interested in converting rural buildings for business use to get in touch with the Redundant Building Grant scheme to find out more about the help available.

“Warwickshire County Council is working hard to support local businesses and create more jobs in these areas.”

Darren Cope from Advantage West Midlands, added: “Wootton Park Business Centre is a good, practical example of how our rural economy can be strengthened. 

It is vitally important that Warwickshire – and the West Midlands region – maintains a diverse and sustainable economy, which is why Advantage West Midlands is pleased to have been able to assist Wootton Park Business Centre through the Redundant Building Grant scheme.”

Ian Roy McCall, owner of Wootton Park Business Centre, said: “Having stopped dairy farming several years ago due to poor returns, we made the decision to redevelop our redundant Victorian farm buildings. 

“The final stage of converting them into high quality office space has been aided by the Redundant Building Grant scheme, and as a result, we’ve been able to meet the growth needs of existing clients and sign up new tenants, providing new employment in a rural area.”

Businesses who’d like to enquire about premises at Wootton Park should contact Ian Roy McCall on 01564 795 579 or for more information on the Redundant Building Grant scheme contact the team directly on 01785 277 706.

Link to WCC