Council-owned housing developer shifts to commercial sector with £12.5m scheme
A £12.5m commercial development in Skelmerdale, capable of supporting up to 120 jobs, has been proposed by Tawd Valley Developments.
The company is owned by West Lancashire Borough Council and the planning application signals a departure from its normal housing function into commercial developments to increase the supply of high quality workspace and boost council coffers.
It aims to develop 45 industrial and trade counter units totalling 100,000 sq ft on a council-owned site at White Moss Business Park in Skelmersdale.
The scheme, to be known as J4, due to its junction location on the M58 motorway, has been designed by John McCall architects and ARP Engineering. Zerum is acting as planning consultant and it is hoped the application will be heard in the spring, says TVD managing director Mark Kitts.
He said: “Our remit is to boost the economic and social wellbeing of the borough through development, so improving its ability to retain and attract quality employers is a natural extension of our work. It has the added benefit of delivering recurring rates payments that the local authority can invest in much needed services.”
He added: “The market’s focus in the last few years has been on ‘big box’ shed developments, neglecting the trade counter and small industrial market which is a mainstay of much of the employment in West Lancs.
“We’re confident that demand levels for space in the sort of high quality environment we can offer at J4 will ensure the scheme’s success.”
The move comes as the developer confirms three further housing applications for 29 units at Maryvale, 45 new homes at Digmoor, and six three-bed semi-detached houses in Egerton, all in Skelmersdale.
Mr Kitts said: “Our drive to improve the housing stock in Skelmersdale continues apace.
“We need up-to-date homes that are suited to residents’ differing needs, whilst also offering best in class sustainability. We’re on a journey in this regard, and with each scheme we are able to adopt new, proven technologies that take us forward another step or two.”
The £6.5m Maryvale scheme includes a mix of market sale and shared ownership homes and is expected to be heard in February. Both tenures will be a first for Tawd Valley and the council. John McCall and Zerum are once again supporting the developer.
The £8m Digmoor scheme will be delivered in two phases. The first phase, comprising a block of 12 new apartments, is the subject of a planning application to be submitted shortly. An application for the second phase is due early in 2024 and subject to a further round of consultation.
This phase will see the demolition of six 1960s blocks of flats, to be replaced by two further blocks of 20 apartments and 13 new semi-detached houses. All will be available to local residents on an affordable rent basis. The low carbon scheme will use timber frames and a bid for funding from Homes England is expected shortly. John McCall, ARP and Zerum are providing professional support.
Six new semi-detached homes with a GDV of £1.3m will be built at Egerton, if consented, utilising further modern methods of construction. The application is expected to be heard in February 2024, for the scheme designed by DK Architects.
Poole Dick are the engineers, with Envision providing advice on sustainability. Both Digmoor and Egerton will seek Homes England Affordable Housing funding to support the regeneration and transformation of these existing residential communities.
