A proposed new 300,000 sq ft industrial development in South Liverpool could see the creation of up to 460 jobs and generate £700,000 in annual business rates for the city. Tony McDonough reports
Industrial developer Indurent has submitted plans to Liverpool City Council to build a 300,000 sq ft industrial development in south Liverpool.
This scheme, on the site of the former Evans / GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical development and manufacturing site in Speke, could see the creation of up to 460 jobs and generate £700,000 in annual business rates for the city council.
These plans would include three large industrial units totalling 212,000 sq ft fronting Speke Boulevard and a further multi-unit facility targeting smaller businesses totalling 90,000 sq ft.
Tobacco giant Imperial products is already located on existing buildings on the site and these would remain. Buildings associated with the former pharmaceutical business are being demolished. Imperial employs around 160 people there.
The proposed development site extends to approximately 6.9 hectares and is located to the north of Speke Boulevard, to the west of its junction with Woodend Avenue, within an established employment area.
The north western part of the site comprises the existing research and development facility which is occupied by Imperial Brands (known as Wellington House). This remains operational and is proposed to be refurbished.
A report submitted to the council by consultancy Turley on behalf of Indurent, said: “The positive economic impacts of the proposed development will therefore persist over the long term, providing tangible benefits for the communities and workforce of Liverpool, Liverpool city region and the North West.”
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Evans dates back more than a century in Liverpool and what eventually became Evans Medical Supplies was taken over by Glaxo in 1961. That business later became GlaxoSmithKline with the Speke site closing down in 2004.
As well as Turley the project team also included UMC Architects, which is leading on design, and Avison Young is advising on planning.