Developer Peel Land starts public consultation on plans for a 1.3m sq ft logistics and manufacturing hub in Liverpool city region with the potential for almost 1,900 jobs. Tony McDonough reports
Peel Land has started a public consultation on plans to build a 1.3m sq ft logistics and manufacturing hub close to St Helens and Haydock Racecourse.
If it gets the go-ahead Haydock Point will offer potentially hundreds of jobs, highways improvements to M6 Junction 23 Haydock Island and significant investment to St Helens. This land, south of the racecourse, was previously part of the greenbelt.
Plans include a multi-fuel HGV hub to help address HGV parking issues and a lack of quality facilities for drivers in the area.
This proposal will also provide significant new landscaping and wildlife areas equivalent to more than 17 football pitches, more than 600 new trees, and new walking, running and recreational trails, including a fitness loop of more than 1.6km.
Stephen Wild, managing director of Peel Land Group, said: “Haydock Point will bring long-lasting benefits for St Helens. The need and demand are here now to bring forward a modern sustainable employment campus.
“As part of the project we will close the northern arm of the A49, diverting that route through our site to the A580 East Lancashire Road, to address long-standing highways capacity at M6 Junction 23 Haydock Island and improve journey times for all.
“Our HGV hub will help tackle a known problem locally whilst the extensive landscaping and greenspace proposals will provide a parkland setting for development.
“We are also developing a social value plan which will create future opportunities particularly for young people and those currently out of work, through partnerships with schools, colleges, job centres and the council.”
Haydock Point is expected to provide capacity for 1,845 jobs across manufacturing, industrial, logistics and commercial roles. It would also contribute around £76m of GVA during the construction phase with around £53m of this concentrated in St Helens.
If approved, the scheme would generate approximately £110m in GVA per year once operational including £73m in St Helens and provide around £4.4m in annual business rates each year to help support local services and infrastructure.
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A consultation on the plans is now open until Sunday, September 13. A public drop-in event will take place on Wednesday, September 2, at the Mercure Hotel, Haydock, from 3pm to 7pm.
An online Q&A session will also be held on Wednesday, September 9 from 6pm to 7pm, with registration available through the project website.
People can also take part in the consultation by completing an online questionnaire at by clicking here, emailing in**@*************co.uk, calling the information line on freephone 0800 689 1095 (Monday to Friday, 9am and 5.30pm) or by returning the printed questionnaire to Freepost HAVE YOUR SAY.