£1.8m investment and planning thumbs up for Alchemy
The next phase of commercial property specialist Network Space’s 30-acre Alchemy site at Knowsley in Merseyside is set to go ahead planning approval after a £1.8m investment.
The money is coming from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Single Investment Fund.
Network Space has secured consent to deliver new industrial space called Element which totals 103,000sq ft alongside outline planning consent to deliver a further 150,000sq ft in later phases on the remaining land.
The development, directly off the A580 close to junction 4 of the M57, includes three new workspace units of 22,000, 35,000 and 46,000sq ft which Network Space will now bring forward speculatively with a start on site expected soon and completion in the autumn of 2018.
The latest phase of development will complement the fully occupied first phase development which totals 100,000sq ft but comprises of smaller units, ranging between 6,000 to 12,000sq ft.
Occupiers at the site already include National Grid, Lombard Shipping, Smith News, Autex, Northern Print and Greenbridge Technologies, and it is hoped that this new phase will capitalise on both the shortage of quality new space available within the region and on the site’s strategic and prominent location.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development said: “The Element development at Alchemy is the first of its scale and nature to be developed across the Liverpool City Region for a number of years and its position on Knowsley Business Park provides exceptional transport links to Liverpool, Manchester and beyond.
Stephen Barnes, managing director for Network Space, said “Element is one of a number of industrial warehouse schemes that we are delivering speculatively this year as we seek to enlarge our retained industrial property portfolio.”
Steve Rotherham, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: “It’s vitally important that we can continue to provide a pipe-line of different types of employment space tailored to the needs of both local businesses and those looking to locate in the City Region.
“The Alchemy site has proven its attractiveness with an impressive mix of blue-chip occupiers, I have every confidence that the latest phase of investment will be equally successful.”
