Delivery group signs up to major unit on burgeoning employment park
The Yodel Delivery Network has taken a 15-year lease on the first speculative unit at Symmetry Park, near Huyton, Merseyside.
Tritax Symmetry concluded the deal at the new highly sustainable 161,900 sq ft logistics facility which is earmarked for completion in the first half of next year.
It comes as the vast infrastructure project on the wider 120-acre site is starting to take shape.
Located on the former Cronton Colliery site, Tritax Symmetry has outline planning consent in place from Knowsley Borough Council for a further 838,100 sq ft.
The UMC-designed facility is being built by GMI Construction Group to Net Zero Carbon in Construction and is on target to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.
Yodel has taken the unit to further improve its distribution network across the North West region.
Symmetry Park is an important element of Knowsley Council’s Halsnead Garden Village project, the largest combined housing and employment development in the Liverpool City Region, including around 1,600 new homes, more than 22.5 hectares of employment land, a new Country Park and other green spaces.
Sarah Chicken, development surveyor at Tritax Symmetry, said: “This letting to Yodel is the successful result of a huge, collaborative effort from both the public and private sector.
“Working closely with Knowsley Council and securing funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has enabled us to bring this disused site back into use and generate further investment and jobs for the area.
“In terms of the wider activity at Symmetry Park, Merseyside, a reserved matters application has been submitted for approximately 350,000 sq ft across two units which we’ll be looking to deliver on site next year, focusing primarily on the spec unit of 230,000 sq ft.“
Mike Hancox, chief executive of Yodel, said: “This is a very exciting period for Yodel and the new depot in Huyton is an important step in expanding the business, ensuring that we can be more dynamic and fit for purpose. We are happy to be bringing employment to the Merseyside area and are looking forward to welcoming new colleagues into the team.”
Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “Symmetry Park will create a significant number of jobs once complete and also generate significant employment opportunities during its construction. This will provide a major boost to the borough’s economy.”
CBRE represented Yodel.
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.
