Property briefs: New town centre for Skem, plus, DTZ, Eddisons, Winterhill largo
A PLAN by St Modwen for a £20m regeneration of Skelmersdale town centre have been approved.
The proposals include a five-screen cinema and 26,000 sq ft of restaurants and shops, a 30,000 sq ft food store, a petrol station, and new public spaces.
Links between the new town centre and existing facilities like The Concourse Shopping Centre and West Lancashire college will also be improved, with a new public square being created that will provide better links between the two.
St Modwen has said that the plans could deliver around 350 new jobs to the area.
The developer has been working with West Lancashire Borough Council (WLBC) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) on the first phase.
Paul Batho, projects director at St Modwen, said: “The council’s decision on the planning application brings the vision for the town centre one step closer in the process.
“The participation of the local community has really supported the efforts of the partners, who have worked hard to keep the plans alive throughout these challenging times. There is still a long way to go over the coming months but we will continue to work closely with West Lancashire Borough Council and HCA to develop plans for delivery of the scheme.”
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DTZ Manchester has sold four vacant residential blocks in Whiston, Merseyside on behalf of the St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The properties have 36 flats over 26,000 sq ft which were formerly used as staff accommodation. The buyer, whose identity was not given, plans to renovate the flats and let them out.
Michal Skotny, associate director at DTZ’s residential team in Manchester, said: “The sale of the properties provides a capital injection to the NHS Trust, and also will see the refurbishment and bringing into use of the residential accommodation. This will provide additional residential stock to the area whilst also eliminating any anti-social behaviour associated with vacant properties.”
The value of the deal was not disclosed.
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AUCTIONEER Eddisons sold 53 (74%) of the 72 lots offered at its final Manchester sale of the year, generating more than £3.5m.
There was strong demand for residential stock across the North West, with 90% (38) of lots in that section of the auction snapped up.
Eddisons’ Andrew Brown said: “This was an excellent sale to complete what has been a very successful auction year. The room was extremely busy and buyers responded positively to the sensibly priced stock, which was seen as offering good value for money.”
A tenanted mixed retail and residential property in Ellesmere Port generating £16,980 a year was sold for £148,000 off a guide of £135,000. Elsewhere, an investment property in Wallasey with two retail units and 10 office suites, producing income of £28,500 a year, sold for £160,000.
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WINTERHILL Largo, the Manchester-based asset recovery and insolvency support group, has been appointed by LPA receivers to sell the former job centre on Trafford Road in Salford.
The 13,500 sq ft property is at the junction of Trafford Road and Crowther Avenue, close to both MediaCityUK and the Oasis Academy.
Winterhill Largo director David Currie said: “The old job centre is a great building in a sought after location and, with some refurbishment, has the potential to make stunning premises just a stone’s throw from the media cluster at Salford Quays.”
He added: “We are currently in discussions with some interested parties and it would be great to think that a building that was a job centre for many years could become a new employment base, bringing more jobs to Salford.”
