Construction of 20 new industrial units now under way
Work on Northern Trust’s new 35,600 sq ft industrial development in St Helens has started on site.
Phase two development at the Gerards Park scheme, located off College Street, will add 20 more units to the popular scheme.
The new units will be constructed to a high specification and will be arranged in three separate terraced blocks with sizes ranging from 818 sq ft, up to 2,906 sq ft.
The units over 1,000 sq ft will include integral office space, and there will be dedicated parking to the front of each unit with good communal circulation space.
The phase two development is being part-funded by the Local Growth Fund.
Local Growth Funding is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through its Strategic Investment Fund.
Mike Grindrod, director at Northern Trust, said: “We are delighted to have the support of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in bringing forward this strategic development, which will complement our existing ownership in St Helens and provide much needed workshop accommodation for small and medium-sized enterprises looking to set up or relocate to the area.
“Considering the current economic climate, this development shows our commitment to investing in the area and creating jobs for the local economy.”
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “We’ve invested £1m to help the site continue to grow and succeed. I want to ensure that we’re able to offer outstanding facilities that will keep attracting new businesses and jobs to St Helens, which is especially important given the impact of COVID these past few months.
“Retaining as many jobs and businesses and as much investment as possible, while attracting more, will be really important in helping our region recover from the economic effects of this pandemic, but we’re already making a start.”
Cllr David Baines, leader of St Helens Borough Council, said: “Growing the local economy and attracting new jobs and investment was a priority for us before COVID, and it’s even more important now.
“Gerard’s Park is already a thriving site and this new development will add significantly to that. This scheme also demonstrates the value of partnership working, and it’s the latest evidence of the benefits of our membership of the Liverpool City Region.”
Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Luke Hall, said: “We’re giving business across the country the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. That’s why we are backing the Gerard’s Park scheme with a Local Growth Fund investment of over £1m.
“The additional space will allow more SMEs to set up or relocate to Liverpool, boosting jobs and opportunities for the community.”
The new development sits alongside Northern Trust’s existing Gerards Park scheme which was developed back in 2012 and when completed will be actively managed by Northern Trust’s in-house managing agents, Whittle Jones.
Northern Trust’s current ownership in St Helens extends to more than 63,000 sq ft across three estates, in 62 units. All three estates are currently fully occupied and home to 61 different businesses.
