With work on its Cronton Colliery development now under way Tritax Symmetry unveils plans for a huge 2.5m sq ft logistics hub at another Liverpool city region site. Tony McDonough reports
Developer Tritax Symmetry has acquired a development site close to St Helens where it proposes to build a huge 2.5m sq ft logistics hub.
Located within the Liverpool City Region Freeport Zone, the new scheme known as Parkside East will also include a new strategic rail freight interchange project. The St Chad’s railway line runs adjacent to the north of the site.
This will be Tritax Symmetry’s second logistics park in the city region. Work is set to complete on the first phase of what will eventually be a 1m sq ft development. Phase one is a 161,900 sq ft warehouse that has been pre-let to delivery giant Yodel.
Following the purchase, Tritax Symmetry is working up a detailed masterplan and will apply for a Development Consent Order to allow the development of the whole project.
Managing director Andrew Dickman said: “As a business, we have been strategically identifying more sustainable projects which align with our own values.
“With the recent news that the HS2 leg from Birmingham to Manchester has been cancelled, this is a timely public-private sector intervention. It will see significant investment into the Liverpool city region and the wider infrastructure network.
“Parkside East is a major project and one we believe will be an exemplar in providing greener, more efficient solutions, removing freight from main line stations and in doing so alleviating pressure and freeing up passenger capacity.”
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority awarded a £24m grant from its Strategic Investment Fund towards the Parkside Link Road project to improve connectivity.
He added: “I am looking forward to seeing the site become a bustling hub of businesses and opportunity.
“It will form a key part of our Freeport, which has the potential to attract international investment, create more well-paid, highly-skilled jobs for local people and build on our existing strengths.”
Sean Traynor, director of strategic growth at St Helens Council, said unlocking Parkside East was a key part of the authority’s Local Plan that was adopted in 2022.
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“We are looking forward to working with them (Tritax) to develop a first-class intermodal Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, a key feature which makes Parkside East a development site of regional and national importance,” he said.
The site was acquired for an undisclosed sum from a private client. Helen Vickery of Ingham and Yorke advised the vendor. Tritax represented itself.