Press Release
Staffordshire, United Kingdom
04-12-2024
2 min read
Hitachi Energy to invest £18 million on new site in Staffordshire
Hitachi Energy to invest in new site in Staffordshire as they plan to move from historic UK local headquarters (HQ)
The move will bring hundreds of jobs over the next decade, representing a huge boost to the local economy
The proposed new campus is the second real-estate investment in two years in the West Midlands
Plans submitted for former Hitachi Energy UK local HQ to be replaced by over 100 new homes, enabling affordable homes for the local community
Staffordshire, 4 December 2024– Hitachi Energy has announced plans to invest in a new Operational Campus in Staffordshire that will create and retain hundreds of jobs for the local area. The company will move out of its current office in Stone, which has served as its UK HQ for the past 28 years, if planning permission is granted to repurpose the old site into new homes.
To enable the move to the new campus, plans have been submitted to Staffordshire Borough Council for the former site to be replaced by over 100 homes, 40 percent of which would be affordable housing. Repurposing the old site has been described as key to facilitating the company’s move to the new campus, with the decision returning to the council’s planning committee in 2025.
While some residents have raised objections to the demolition of part of the buildings on the current Stone site, Historic England’s 2022 report found that the site did not meet the criteria to be listed a heritage asset even though the factory does have some local interest due to its history of shoe-manufacturing. That said, the buildings on the current site cannot be modernized due to excessive costs, meaning Hitachi Energy’s plans for a new Operational Campus nearby hinge on the outcome of planning decisions.
The new facilities would be operational by 2026, and the 400 existing staff based in Stone would be based at the new campus. The plans have been described as a clear commitment to the Midlands, with Hitachi Energy having opened their new local Headquarters in Birmingham earlier this year.
The new campus, consisting of two buildings, is designed to support the future growth of Hitachi Energy´s UK business as they continue to deliver critical energy infrastructure to customers across the country. Additionally, the facility will also have a new dedicated area for technological innovations – a key facet of meeting the UK´s target to decarbonise the power sector by 2030 and reach Net Zero by 2050.
Stone has served us very well for the past 28 years and is where many of our local employees have lived throughout our proud history at the site. Our decision to invest in a new campus and build a new state-of-the-art facility is a huge commitment to our employees and our growth in the region as we look to secure a site that will help facilitate our growth in the UK. The move represents a major boost to new jobs in the region whilst allowing for the retention of the business in the borough.
Before Hitachi Energy was on the premises, the space housed a local Stonefield Works and was a factory site for shoe firm Lotus until the 1970s when the company acquired it.
Notes to the Editors
1
Plans submitted for former Hitachi Energy UK HQ to be replaced by over 100 new homes, enabling affordable homes for the local community.
Hitachi Energy has announced plans to invest in a new Operational Campus in Staffordshire next to its new local headquarter in Birmingham.
With the proposed development consisting of a two-building bespoke campus on a 3-acre plot.
The company has submitted outline planning at the 10 Acre Stone Site for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of up to 114 dwellings with public open space and associated works.
The scheme will deliver 40% of dwellings as affordable residential homes for the borough.
About Hitachi Energy
Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We are advancing the world’s energy system to be more sustainable, flexible and secure and we collaborate with customers and partners to enable a sustainable energy future – for today’s generations and those to come. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries, serving customers in utility, industry, transportation, data centers and infrastructure sectors. With innovative technologies and services including the integration of more than 150 gigawatts of HVDC links into the power system, we help make the energy value chain more efficient, making electricity more accessible to all. Together with stakeholders across sectors and geographies, we enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 45,000 people in 60 countries and generate business volumes of around $13 billion USD.
https://www.hitachienergy.com
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About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the 3 business sectors of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s revenues as 3 sectors for fiscal year 2023 (ended March 31, 2024) totaled 8,564.3 billion yen, with 573 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 270,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.
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