Developer Tritax Symmetry has secured planning permission for a new 1 million ft2 employment and logistics park in Knowsley, Merseyside.
The hybrid application for Symmetry Park Merseyside included detailed planning consent for a new 160,000ft2 logistics facility together with outline planning for up to 835,600ft2 of storage and distribution space and offices. It is predicted to create 1,035 direct temporary jobs during construction and approximately 1,000 additional jobs within the Liverpool City Region and is anticipated to generate approximately £51m of net additional GVA a year.
Speaking about the decision, Matt Claxton, Planning Director at Tritax Symmetry, commented, “Symmetry Park Merseyside is one of the very few sites in the North West which will be available to accommodate this scale of development and, with demand at record levels, we are receiving strong occupier interest already.”
“Supply chain infrastructure is vital to the economy as a whole and this development will be of benefit to everyone across the borough,” added Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development. “Not only will the employment site create over 1,000 jobs once complete, it will also generate significant employment in its construction.”
Situated east of Junction 6 of the M62, the site forms part of the Halsnead Garden Village Sustainable Urban Extension, which represents part of the wider vision for the Halsnead Garden Village.
The outline element of the application also includes the formation of a country park and drainage attenuation ponds and pedestrian/cycle routes. The full details of the country park are being considered under a separate planning application submitted by the Land Restoration Trust. It is anticipated that the employment development and country park will be built out concurrently, with development commencing later this year.
The buildings will be built to net zero carbon with 160,000ft2 unit to be built speculatively.
The project team includes UMC Architects, Gerald Eve (planning), Tier Consulting, The Environmental Partnership (TEP) and Tyler Grange.
