Developer Chancerygate has secured planning consent for Mersey Reach, a 212,000 sq ft development at Dunningsbridge Road with a 36,000 sq ft pre-let already signed up. Tony McDonough reports

Hundreds of jobs could be created at a new 20m logistics hub close to the Port of Liverpool – with a major pre-let already in the bag.

Developer Chancerygate has secured planning consent for Mersey Reach, a 212,000 sq ft development at Dunningsbridge Road.

It will comprise six self-contained industrial and logistics units ranging from 12,000 sq ft to 60,000 sq ft. A 36,000 sq ft unit has been pre-let to Grafton Group to trade as a Selco Builders Warehouse.

The 13.5 acre site is close to Peel Ports’ recently launched Liverpool2 deepwater port and was the former Peerless Edible Oils factory, which closed more than 20 years ago.

Chancerygate has also pre-sold a two-acre plot on the front of the site to Euro Garages, which will build it out as petrol filling station and a convenience store plus a drive-thru Starbucks coffee store.

Mike Walker, development director for the firm in the North West, said: “We have worked closely with Sefton Council to provide a scheme that will deliver much needed employment space in the area.

“The two occupiers that we have already secured will create 130 new jobs and we anticipate that the scheme as a whole could ultimately provide more than 375 jobs.

“The site was identified as a strategic Employment Site in the Sefton Local Plan and together with Sefton Council, we have created a scheme on a key gateway site that meets both their and our aspirations.”

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member Regeneration and Skills, dded: “We have worked closely with the developer to enable the proposals to come forward.

“This scheme will regenerate a site that has been vacant for over 20 years, creating hundreds of new jobs.”

Planning consultant for Chancerygate was Savills and the appointed architect is Fletcher Rae. CBRE and B8 Real Estate are the retained agents.