Green light for employment park capable of supporting 1,000 jobs
Tritax Symmetry has secured planning permission for a new one million sq ft employment park at Symmetry Park in Knowsley, Merseyside.
The hybrid application included detailed planning consent for a new 160,000 sq ft logistics facility, together with outline planning for up to 835,600 sq ft of storage and distribution space and offices.
The outline element of the application also includes the formation of a country park and drainage attenuation ponds and pedestrian/cycle routes on the site of the former Cronton Colliery.
The full details of the country park are being considered under a separate planning application submitted by the Land Restoration Trust. It is anticipated that the employment development and country park will be built out concurrently, with development commencing later this year.
Symmetry Park Merseyside is predicted to create 1,035 direct temporary jobs during construction and approximately 1,000 additional jobs within the Liverpool City Region (LCR) and is anticipated to generate approximately £51m of net additional GVA per annum.
Situated east of junction six of the M62, the site forms part of the Halsnead Garden Village Sustainable Urban Extension (HSUE) which represents part of the wider vision for the Halsnead Garden Village.
Matt Claxton, planning director at Tritax Symmetry, said: “Symmetry Park, Merseyside is one of the very few sites in the North West which will be available to accommodate this scale of development and, with demand at record levels, we are receiving strong occupier interest. I would like to thank both Liverpool City Region and Knowsley Council for their collaborative approach.
“We will appoint a contractor in the coming weeks and will look to build the first unit out speculatively. In line with our net zero carbon pledge, all of these new buildings will be delivered to net zero carbon in construction in line with UK Green Building Council.”
Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “The number and the quality of jobs that Halsnead Garden Village will create is hugely significant and through our Knowsley Works team we will help as many local residents as possible secure the opportunities that this development will bring.
“Supply chain infrastructure is vital to the economy as a whole and this development will be of benefit to everyone across the borough. Not only will the employment site create over 1,000 jobs once complete, it will also generate significant employment in its construction.”
The project team includes UMC Architects, Gerald Eve (planning), Tier Consulting, The Environmental Partnership (TEP) and Tyler Grange.
Tritax Symmetry is the dedicated logistics developer of Tritax Big Box REIT.
