Planned for the site of a former Liverpool city region coal mine, Symmetry Park could provide jobs for up to 1,000 people and will also include a new country park. Tony McDonough reports
Developer Tritax Symmetry has secured planning permission for a 1m sq ft logistics park in Knowsley.
Symmetry Park, on the site of the former Cronton Colliery could provide employment for up to 1,035 direct temporary jobs during construction and up to 1,000 permanent jobs in the finished scheme.
The hybrid application included detailed planning consent for a new 160,000 sq ft logistics facility together with outline planning for up to 835,600 sq ft of storage and distribution space and offices.
It is estimated it will generate around £51m of net additional GVA every year. It will also include a new 65-acre country park. With pedestrian/cycle routes. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is putting £12m into the project.
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.
Cronton Colliery opened in 1916 and at its height employed more than 900 people and annually produced more than 350,000 tonnes of coal. Eight men were killed in 1917 during an explosion at the seam. It closed in 1984.
Located east of Junction 6 of the M62, the site forms part of the Halsnead Garden Village Sustainable Urban Extension (HSUE) which represents part of the wider vision for the Halsnead Garden Village.
Matt Claxton, planning director at Tritax Symmetry, said: “Symmetry Park, Merseyside is one of the very few sites in the North West which will be available to accommodate this scale of development.
“With demand at record levels, we are receiving strong occupier interest. I would like to thank both Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Knowsley Council for their collaborative approach.
“We will appoint a contractor in the coming weeks and will look to build the first unit out speculatively. In line with our net zero carbon pledge, all of these new buildings will be delivered to net zero carbon in construction in line with UK Green Building Council.”
Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, added: “The number and the quality of jobs that Halsnead Garden Village will create is hugely significant and through our Knowsley Works team we will help as many local residents as possible secure the opportunities that this development will bring.
“Supply chain infrastructure is vital to the economy as a whole and this development will be of benefit to everyone across the borough.”
The project team includes UMC Architects, Gerald Eve (planning), Tier Consulting, The Environmental Partnership (TEP) and Tyler Grange. Tritax Symmetry is the logistics developer of Tritax Big Box REIT (TBBR).