Plans approved for Stobart’s Widnes hub

HALTON Borough Council has granted planning permission for a new 1.4m sq ft industrial business park in Widnes.

Stobart Park is part of the Mersey Multimodal Gateway, which will offer transport firms a direct rail link from Liverpool’s ports. The project received

The park is already home to Tesco, which has taken two buildings with a combined floorspace of 528,000 sq ft to service its stores throughout the North West.

Stobart Group deputy CEO, Richard Butcher, said: “We welcome the news from Halton Borough Council that the planning application has been approved.

“We believe that the site is the best logistics location in the North West, and with this new development and full rail connectivity, will realise it’s full potential.”

Jason Print of joint letting agents, Cushman & Wakefield said: “Stobart Park is at the heart of a development of international significance.  

“It offers the best logistics location in the North West and is the only truly rail-connected development site in the region. The on-site rail freight interchange offers occupiers financial savings and environmental benefits in their supply chain, a factor which is becoming increasingly important to occupiers.

“In addition, Stobart Park benefits from on-site sustainable power plant and as easy access to the major motorway networks.

“This scheme is of great significance to Halton Borough Council, which has worked closely with the developer and potential occupiers helping to secure a strong workforce.”

David Brooks of joint letting agents Jones Lang LaSalle adds: “This is great news for the North West economy as a whole, as there is currently a dire shortage of large, readily-deliverable  employment sites, with rapid access to the major motorways.

“The site can accommodate some of the largest active logistics requirements currently in the marketplace of up to 1m sq ft and also has the ability to provide fully-automated warehouses with eaves heights up to circa 40m.”