Jobs boost as massive units get go-ahead

Jul 11 2007 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

THREE huge industrial/ commercial units that could see the creation of hundreds of new jobs are to be built on the outskirts of Liverpool after a £65m scheme was give the go-ahead by planners.

Global provider of sustainable logistics space, Gazeley, has secured planning consent for the buildings totalling 888,000 sq ft, between Gillmoss and Kirkby, near where the M57 motorway meets the East Lancs Road.

Gazeley, a subsidiary of US-based Asda owner Wal-Mart, is developing the site in a joint venture with financial services company, MetLife. The delivery of the three units will be phased over the next two years, with the first speculative build due to start by the end of the year.

Bruce Topley, development director at Gazeley UK, believes this site will attract local occupiers, multi national businesses, retailers and third party distributors.

He said: “The site is ideally situated, bang on the M57, with immediate access to the regional and national motorway network, most importantly the M6 and M62.

“Not only that, but the close vicinity to a working population of around 1.5m means there is a readily available pool of skilled and unskilled labour.”

Gazeley said it was committed to “sustainable development” adding that the buildings will include a number of environmentally-friendly features including the capacity to collect and recycle rain water, energy efficient lighting, solar panels, low water use appliances and FSC approved timber.

The company claimed these environmentally friendly features of the design would not only reduce the environmental footprint of the buildings, but also deliver annual operating cost savings of over £10,000 to customers through reduced energy consumption.

Although the first unit will be developed speculatively by contractor, GSE UK, Gazeley is also seeking pre-lets for the further two buildings which have received planning consent.

It is quoting rents of £4.50 – £4.75 per sq ft. and agents Colliers CRE, King Sturge and CB Richard Ellis will market the space.

Don Morgan, planning director at Gazeley UK, said: “Planning for this site has gone through extremely smoothly, which highlights not only the economic and social viability of the plans, but also the efficient processing of our proposals by Liverpool City Council.”

tonymcdonough@dailypost.co.uk