CAR giant Ford may pull out of its Liverpool base after plans to build a £30m leisure park near its Speke headquarters were approved by Liverpool Council.
Belfast-based developer Benmore was given the go-ahead to construct a complex including shops, hotels and a cinema, which it said will create around 325 permanent jobs and see around £30m invested in Speke.
But the decision sparked protests from union chiefs, who said the loss of land Ford needs for its operation could jeopardise up to 200 skilled workers’ livelihoods.
Benmore’s New Mersey Leisure plan would see it take over part of a site currently used for the storage and distribution of Ford vehicles.
The developer suggested there was a “substantial” piece of land which could be used instead, but Ford rejected the claim.
Ford’s European transport operations manager Graham Edwards told Liverpool council’s planning committee the proposals “undermine our operation considerably”.
He added: “Should the committee choose to accept the applicant’s submission, it would force me into considering our position in this area.”
Unite representative Bill Verinder added: “If this goes ahead, Ford will do their best to pull out of here because their operation cannot continue. They are going to require more storage in future, not less.”
The planning committee was split four in favour and four against, leaving chairman Cllr John McIntosh to approve the scheme with his casting vote, to shouts of: “You’ve just sold our jobs there! A Labour council – you’ve got to be kidding!”
Because the land is currently zoned for industrial use, the decision will have to be approved by the government before work can begin in 2014.
After the meeting, a Benmore spokesman said: “We are delighted to have been granted permission for a project which will make a real difference to the lives of thousands of people in south Liverpool, creating hundreds of jobs and providing sorely-needed family leisure facilities.
“We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure this project is delivered on time and on budget, with minimum disruption to existing businesses using the site and maximum benefit to the people of Speke and Garston.
“We look forward to bringing forward a scheme which will create 400 construction jobs and 320 permanent jobs and remain confident the scheme need not lead to the loss of any other jobs.
“The New Mersey Leisure scheme will transform a key gateway into the city and represents, in the current climate, one of the city’s most significant regeneration projects for the next decade.”
