Logistics provider starts work on former Cronton Colliery site

Logistics development company Tritax Symmetry has started the delivery of a new 161,000 sq ft unit at Symmetry Park, Merseyside.

GMI Construction Group has been appointed to build the UMC-designed logistics facility.

Tritax was awarded hybrid planning permission for the facility – unit 1 – last month, as well as outline planning consent for 838,100 sq ft of floor space and a country park. A reserved matters application has now been submitted for the outline area comprising two units totalling 365,542 sq ft.

The start of work marks the first step in the regeneration of the former Cronton Colliery site.

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.

David Nuttall, development director at Tritax Symmetry, said: “In commencing construction, we identified strong occupier interest for the outline area and subsequently took the decision to submit this new application to meet the demand and maintain the momentum at Symmetry Park, Merseyside.

“The collaborative way in which the local authority and combined authority has worked has been instrumental in getting the scheme live, which will have a positive regenerative impact in Knowsley.”

Marc Banks, divisional director at GMI Construction, said: “Symmetry Park, Merseyside is a first class, highly sustainable development. We have forged an excellent working relationship with Tritax Symmetry, delivering schemes in Goole and MA6NITUDE in Middlewich for the company.

“We are now pressing forward with the construction of unit one which is scheduled to complete in Q1 2023.”

Gerald Eve and Cushman & Wakefield are joint letting agents for the scheme.

The project team includes UMC Architects, Gerald Eve (planning), Tier Consulting and C4 Projects.

Tritax Symmetry is the dedicated logistics developer of Tritax Big Box REIT.