Council approves distribution centre plans which will lead to 1,200 jobs

Proposed Iceland scheme (courtesy Miller Developments)

St Helens Council has approved permission for Deeside-based retailer Iceland Foods to occupy a unit at Omega West which is expected to create more than 1,200 jobs.

The site is next to land which will house an 878,000 sq ft warehousing scheme for Liverpool retailer TJ Morris, trading as Home Bargains, which is expected to create a similar number of jobs.

The Home Bargains development was granted planning permission by the council in October 2020, despite strong objections to the 184-acre Omega West scheme, on environmental grounds.

Omega West is an extension of Miller Developments’ Omega Business Park, situated at junction eight of the M62.

Iceland took a 20-year lease on the new regional distribution centre in March this year.

At the time of the deal, Miller Developments managing director, David Milloy, said: “Since we obtained planning consent for Omega West, occupier interest has been very strong. We are delighted to have exchanged contracts with Iceland and are pleased they have chosen Omega as the location of their new distribution centre, to support their continued growth.”

Simon Anderson, of Iceland, said: “We are very pleased to have secured this building on what is now the North West’s premier logistics park – we look forward to working with Miller and their team on its delivery.”

Miller Developments is expected to start construction in September 2022, with practical completion expected in autumn 2023.

Infrastructure work is under way to support the Home Bargains development.

Mr Milloy added: “Omega West forms a natural extension to the existing Omega Business Park, which has reached capacity following the recent lettings to Amazon and Gousto. It offers an opportunity to meet the undisputed demand for logistics space in the North West, whilst delivering meaningful economic and social benefits to both St Helens and Warrington Boroughs.”

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