RUGBY World Cup winner Neil Back joined the scrum when plans for a new £120m business park on the edge of Worcester were unveiled in front of property experts from across the Midlands.

Worcester Six, which is being built off the Warndon junction of the M5 and will create more than 5,000 jobs, came under the spotlight at nearby Spetchley Park when more than 50 property professionals learned more about the many opportunities the development offers potential occupiers. It will provide up to 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation in a range of high quality business units. Work has started on a £10million infrastructure package and is progressing well with a £15m speculative funding deal being agreed with an overseas investor for two large commercial units to be built near the motorway junction.

Dan Gallagher, joint managing director of developer Stoford, told the gathering that good progress was being made at the site with units being designed for a variety of employment uses, including technology, manufacturing, industrial and warehousing.

Highways improvements to access the site have been funded by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership through the Growth Deal. The £4m project to upgrade Pershore Lane will provide access to Worcester Six as well as improve traffic flow to Junction 6 of the M5.

Stoford was appointed development partner by landowner The Spetchley Estate. The development site has been identified within Worcestershire’s Strategic Economic Plan as one of four "game changer" sites – key employment sites seen as important in driving the county’s economic future prosperity.

Neil Back, an England and British Lions rugby legend who was part of the 2003 World Cup winning team, entertained guests at the launch event with stories from his playing and coaching career.