Three key high street brands commit to £220m Chorley business park
Three major high street brands have committed to a total of 7,222 sq ft of space at the new £220m Botany Bay Business Park in Chorley.
FI Real Estate Management (FIREM), the Chorley-based developer behind the scheme, said Costa Coffee, Greggs and Central Co-Op will be taking space at the site, with all three brands set to open by early 2025.
With estimates that the Botany Bay Business Park scheme will be home to just over 1,000 jobs when fully completed, these occupiers will provide valuable amenities to those working and visiting the site, while also bringing new food and beverage brands to the M61 Junction location.
FIREM is currently constructing 33 units totalling 405,386 sq of space at the first phase of the development.
In December 2023, FIREM secured planning approval for phase two of the site – a further 322,560 sq ft of industrial space on its development site across the canal. Groundwork on phase two is set to begin in the first quarter of this year.
The development has recently hit a significant construction milestone as the site’s largest industrial unit, Block E, which totals 158,360 sq ft, is now ready for enquiries and viewings.
Strong interest in Botany Bay Business Park has ramped up, with a total of 129,000 sq ft now in legals, expected to complete by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
To support the development, FIREM has funded transport and infrastructure enhancements around the site, junction eight of M61 and the Hartwood Roundabout area via a Section 106 agreement.
The agreed plans are being co-ordinated and delivered with Lancashire County Council.
Tim Knowles, founder and managing director of FIREM, welcomed the new signings, saying: “These businesses will not only bring new jobs to the area, they will provide a variety of amenity to the community we create at Botany Bay Business Park and will also offer local residents and employees brand new food and beverage options, conveniently located just off the motorway.”
“It’s encouraging to see interest really ramping up on the site now and as we near the completion on our first four blocks, we are seeing first hand how the site is addressing the need for high quality industrial, warehousing and commercial space in Chorley.”
Susan Agnew, Acquisition Manager at Costa Coffee, said their new drive-thru store will open later this year. She added: “The store will create a number of new job opportunities for members of the local community and is the perfect space for customers who live and work in the area, or who are just passing by, to enjoy their favourite cup of coffee in-store or conveniently on-the-go.”
Derek Matkin, Senior Acquisitions Manager at Central Co-Op, said: “Botany Bay Business Park is a modern and future-proofed facility which is perfectly placed to support the local community, something that aligns with our vision to be the UK’s leading ethical community retailer.”
