Development manager appointed for prime St Helens site

St Helens Council has appointed Network Space Developments (NSD) as development manager for a prime site next to the recently-opened £54m Glass Futures complex.

The five-acre site was recently purchased by the council, with assistance from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Strategic Investment Fund, for an undisclosed sum.

This is the second appointment for Newton-le-Willows-based NSD by a local authority, after Stockport Council engaged it earlier this year to lead the design and delivery of Cheadle Eco Business Park at Bird Hall Lane.

Forming part of Glass Futures’ 15-month construction programme, the land in St Helens is now serviced and development-ready with access roads constructed and remediation works completed.

Cllr Richard McCauley, St Helens Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and planning, said: “Network Space has an excellent track record on overseeing successful developments in our borough – from the top-class, award-winning Mere Grange to Glass Futures, a state-of-the-art, globally significant project which will once again put St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation.

“I’m delighted that we will be working with them once again on this exciting new project on our journey to drive forward inclusive growth – providing contracts for local suppliers as part of our commitment to social value, as well as creating job and training opportunities for local residents, all while ensuring our borough maintains its position as a global centre of excellence.”

Catherine Chilvers, development director at Network Space Developments, said: “Two development management appointments by ambitious local authorities this year demonstrates our long standing expertise in delivering property-led regeneration projects on behalf of a public private partnership.

“NSD has shown itself to be a trusted partner, with the commercial expertise to guide and accelerate delivery to facilitate new jobs and investment opportunities, and this latest role gives us a further opportunity to do just that.”

NSD has already created and modernised almost 10 million sq ft of multi-unit industrial workspace across the North of England, attracting a variety of global and UK-based businesses.