1 Providence Place (formerly known as the All Saints development) is now open…

to mark the formal event,
on Tuesday 7th February 2012, Olympic hero and  record-breaking decathlete Daley Thompson, joined children, community leaders, dignitaries and Sandwell businesspeople to celebrate what is being touted as “a giant leap into the future”.

This major office development in West Bromwich  consists of around 75,000 square feet of high-quality office space and is situated at the junction of the A41 Expressway and Cronehills Linkway.

The new, award-winning building has been constructed as part of Transform Sandwell, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s partnership with BT, which aims to improve services and attract inward investment to boost the area.

Around 125km of communications cables have been installed – equivalent to the distance between Sandwell and London.

thinkSandwell and finditinsandwell, our procurement forum, have followed Providence Place’s progress closely, organising Breakfast Clubs with key buyers in November 2010 and May 2011 to help local businesses access the resulting contract opportunities.

We were delighted when finditinsandwell member Fire Management Ltd was appointed by principal contractor Bowmer & Kirkland to provide fire protection to the building.

About 900 people will be based in the four-storey business centre, including 400 employees of Transform Sandwell and BT’s 300-strong customer service team.

It will also be the new base of BT Fresca, which provides specialist technology services to major retailers.

Councillor Darren Cooper, leader of Sandwell Council, said: “Working in partnership to attract inward investment is key to our regeneration programme, and the opening of this flagship BT building is at the very heart of that.

“Today is about celebrating all that is good about Sandwell – all that we have achieved so far and looking with confidence to the future as our ambitious regeneration plans take shape at an astonishing pace.

“Our partnership with BT has been a very positive experience for Sandwell and its staff. The opening of this building and the wider regeneration of West Bromwich illustrate what we can achieve thanks to partnerships like these.”

Gavin Patterson, BT board member and chief executive of BT’s retail division, said: “This magnificent building stands like a beacon at the heart of this exciting redevelopment.

“These state-of-the-art offices are a giant leap forward for the West Midlands, creating much-needed jobs and prosperity at a time of economic uncertainty. They show what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together in partnership.

“We are hugely encouraged by the enthusiasm and early feedback from the people working here.”

Providence Place is central to West Bromwich’s ongoing regeneration which includes plans for new shops and restaurants, a swimming pool, cinema, college, better transport links and improved green spaces. Read more about the changing face of West Bromwich.