Planning bid submitted for employment space which could support 500+ jobs

Plans for a new employment site in south Liverpool capable of supporting more than 500 jobs have been submitted to Liverpool City Council.

It follows a period of community consultation during the summer by GB Europe Holdings Limited regarding the proposed development  on Dakota Drive, Speke.

If planning approval is successful, the logistics facility will be operated by Uniserve, which is part of the GB Europe Holdings group of companies.

Once fully operational, it is estimated that more than 500 new jobs would be created within the area, generating circa £35m of economic benefits per year. This is in addition to up to approximately 680 jobs supported during construction.

The proposals are for a new 87,967 sq m logistics warehouse on the 50-acre former Prinovis printing factory site, which was acquired by GB Europe late last year.

The existing outdated buildings would be replaced with a purpose-built, modern facility providing office space, HGV loading and staff parking.

Sustainability measures including electric vehicle charging, secure cycle parking and extensive landscaping and tree planting would complete the development.

A spokesperson for GB Europe Holdings said: “We are seeking planning approval for a state-of-the-art logistics centre, which will create a substantial number of new jobs in Speke on what is currently a redundant brownfield site.

“The warehouse and distribution building has been carefully designed to provide a high quality working environment for our future employees. We are also

mindful of our relationship with the local community and so the new facility would sit within extensive and enhanced landscaping including newly planted trees.”

They added: “We would like to thank those people who participated in the public consultation and we remain absolutely committed to working with the local community as these proposals progress.

“Should planning be approved, we will work with the local authority and relevant agencies to ensure that as many local people as possible benefit from the jobs created in Speke.”

Avison Young is the Planning Consultant for the project.

A decision on the planning application is expected in the early new year.