Infrastructure work is set to start to support a new agri-tech research and innovation hub in Shropshire which is expected to help create up to 950 jobs.

The proposed development to be known as Ni-Park is a key element of the Newport Innovation and Enterprise Package (‘NIEP’) which secured £6.36m funding from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership under the Local Growth Fund matched by investment from Telford & Wrekin Council.

The council has said the continued development of Harper Adams University, with its agri-tech research programme and Agri-Engineering and Precision Farming Centre for Innovation, has created an opportunity to bring high-value jobs to Newport through the creation of a cluster of high-tech businesses on the new innovation site.

It will also strengthen supply chain opportunities and growth of a key sector providing economic benefits across the whole borough.

The site has been identified by the government’s Department for International Trade as an international focus for new foreign inward investment.

The development is supported by the council, the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Harper Adams University.

The infrastructure works will also seek to address traffic growth in and around Newport associated with new developments.

The highway works starts on Wednesday 4 December and are expected to last until December 2020.

Cllr Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for the Borough Economy, said: “Ni-Park is set to put Telford and the UK at the forefront of high efficiency agriculture and I am delighted that work is about to begin.

“It will bring together agricultural and technical companies enabling industry experts to collaborate on and commercialise new technologies.

“Ni-Park will pioneer an epicentre of global intelligence, drive growth and support innovation to help farmers and businesses achieve sustainable productivity in agriculture and farming.”