Led by chairman Peter Pawsey, Worcestershire LEP representatives met Communities Secretary Eric Pickles at a special meeting in Westminster, supported by Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier and officials from Wyre Forest District Council and ReWyre.
Mr Pickles said: "I was really pleased to meet with Mark and the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership team to hear how they are pressing ahead with their own ambitious plans for encouraging enterprise and business growth in Kidderminster. This is exactly the sort of leadership we envisioned when we set up local enterprise partnerships and I support it wholeheartedly."
The LEP, which has not secured enterprise zone status for its area, wants to develop the business park in south Kidderminster, which it believes would generate investment opportunities and potentially create 4,000 new jobs.
Mr Pawsey said: “It was a very successful meeting. His support means we are able to start pressing ahead with our ambitious plans for the regeneration of South Kidderminster.
“Mr Pickles also pledged his commitment to ensure the issues facing South Kidderminster will receive the highest attention in his department. We are seeking all opportunities to secure business investment in the area and this is a great step forward.”
The LEP's plan is centred on a near 500-acre site, including the Stourport Road and Worcester Road employment corridors, which was originally put forward by local business leaders as part of ReWyre regeneration initiative.
Around 200-acres of cleared land is available for new development, including the former British Sugar and National Standard sites.
“We emphasised that significant parts of the site are already ‘shovel ready’ for development and that Wyre Forest DC is currently preparing a Local Development Order for consultation over the next few months. Such an Order would allow the fast tracking of planning processes for future development,” added Mr Pawsey.
Superfast Broadband is also part of the plan for south Kidderminster. The provisions of the Localism Act, which comes into effect in the spring, will allow the discounting of business rates on developments within the area.
The delegation was also encouraged to apply for help from the forthcoming Growing Places Fund to finance key transport and infrastructure schemes.