Peel Logistics has secured planning for an 800,000 sq ft mega shed at Knowsley Industrial Park near Liverpool.
Peel Logistics was advised by Indigo Planning and AEW Architects, with AEW designing three illustrative layout options for the site.
Knowsley Industrial Park accommodates around 600 businesses over 900-acres of land. Occupiers could take a single unit of 800,000 sq ft, or there could be two or three units totalling 720,000 sq ft built on the plot.
The 37-acre Knowsley 800 site is the largest on the park and has been vacant since September 2012.
Matthew Fitton, director of development at Peel Logistics, said: “The outline planning consent gives Peel Logistics the ability to deliver warehousing and distribution facilities of up to 800,000 sq ft in one single unit. In addition, we will be shortly be instructing a £1.2m groundworks contract to bring the site forwards for development which will essentially create an ‘oven-ready’ land opportunity and allows us to offer the occupational market competitive timescales for the delivery of new design and build facilities. We recognise this is essential in securing occupiers and have therefore fully committed to this strategy at Knowsley 800.”
Indigo Planning Associate Director Nick Fillingham said: “Unanimous approval from the planning committee shows how much support there is locally for employment investment in Knowsley. The site provides excellent opportunities for large format requirements and, following completion of the enabling works contract, will be deliverable immediately. This vacant site with flexible planning permission can now plan an active role in bringing new jobs to the area.”
Steve Burne of AEW Architects added: “We have been working with Peel at Knowsley and other sites to create a recognisable brand identity for their industrial buildings. The advanced groundworks will mean the site presents no barriers to development and is perfect for large scale distribution buildings, which can be delivered in a range of sizes, including an 800,000sq.ft single unit. AEW have vast experience in the Logistics sector and this have been strengthened further by working with Peel Logistics.”
A report prepared for councillors ahead of the committee meeting said that the potential employment generation of the site was significant although there was no defined end user at present.
