A Liverpool city region development that will include a 25,000 sq ft Home Bargains store and three industrial units totalling 190,000 sq ft is given the green light by council planners. Tony McDonough reports

A developer owned by Home Bargains tycoon Tom Morris is to push on with a 215,000 sq ft commercial scheme after securing planning consent.

Councillors on Knowsley Council‘s planning committee gave unanimous consent to the plans from Davos for a 215,000 sq ft scheme on the site of the former Sovereign Distillery complex in Huyton.

Lambrini maker Halewood International sold the site to Network Space in 2021 and in 2023 it was acquired by Davos, the development venture set up by Home Bargains founder and billionaire Tom Morris.

Mr Morris is already pushing on with multiple schemes in Liverpool including a £1bn cluster of residential towers close to the waterfront that will include a 60-storey skyscraper and a five-star hotel.

Davos has already completed phase one of the redevelopment of the Sovereign site on Wilson Road, which comprises nine industrial units totalling more than 185,000 sq ft.

Phase two has now secured approval from councillors on Knowsley Council’s planning committee. It will comprise a 25,000 sq ft Home Bargains outlet and three industrial units totalling 190,000 sq ft.

Approval for the industrial units was seen as a formality as the site is already designated as suitable by the council for employment use. However, there was a question of whether the retail unit will have a negative impact on nearby local retail centres.

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As a condition of planning consent, officers suggested a maximum of 45% of the sales area be given to convenience retail, and 55% to merchandise such as household goods, toys and pet products.

Others on the project team include Architect AEW and planning specialist Quod Feature as well as Amenity Tree and Walker Sime.