Peel bidding to build major new employment space

PEEL Logistics has submitted an application for outline planning consent for an 800,000sq ft employment complex at Knowsley Indusrial Park near Liverpool.

This development would allow the construction of large format units to satisfy demand from major manufacturing and/or distribution businesses.

AEW Architects, which advised on the application with Indigo Planning, has designed three layout options for the site intended to meet the needs of a range of occupiers.

The site is the largest on the park and has been vacant since September 2012. With a power supply in excess of 10 MV, there is potential for a rail link to the rear of the site.

Peel Logistics development director Matthew Fitton said:  “The submission of this planning application is a further example of Peel Logistics investing in sites to create oven-ready land opportunities for the occupational market.

“In addition, we are shortly to commit to a ground works package of £1.5m to ready the site for development.  Our investment will create a large scale occupational opportunity which is all set to go.”

Indigo Planning associate director Nick Ellngham said: “A flexible planning permission would help Peel Logistics attract either a single occupier or a range of occupiers with very specific needs.

“The site has been vacant for some time and following Peel’s intervention, it can now be taken forward and brought back into active use.”

Steve Burne of AEW Architects added: “We worked closely with the client to explore various layout solutions that provide varying levels of floor space ranging from 800,000sq ft for one large single unit, or options for two or three units totalling 720,000sq ft. This is a great site that is perfectly suited to large scale employment units.”

A decision on the application by Knowsley Council is likely to be towards the end of September.

The consultant team for the project also includes TTHC (Transport), Ecology Solutions (ecology), DBK (PM/cost consultant), Shepherd Gilmore (FRA and drainage), Wardell Armstrong (noise), Christians Environmental (arboriculture), and e3p (remediation). Zerum is the MEP design consultant.