Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is investing £2.65m in the three industrial  schemes in Wirral, Knowsley and St Helens that could create 300 jobs. Tony McDonough reports

Work on three new industrial development sites is now under way across the Liverpool region with the potential for to create more than 300 jobs.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Light Industrial Fund is investing £2.65m in the three schemes in Wirral, Knowsley and St Helens. The fund is designed to retain SMEs looking to expand and attract new investment to the region. The three projects are:

• Magazine Point, Bromborough – Developed by Redsun Developments, within the established industrial and commercial area of Bromborough, Wirral, this development of 55,000 sq ft is under way and due for completion early 2021. The site will deliver three units, one of which already has confirmed occupation.
• Image Park, Knowsley Industrial Estate – Within the Image Park development owned by Seybourne Estates, demolition work is now underway on the former Kodak premises to develop the next phase. The proposed redevelopment will provide 65,000 sq ft of space.
• Gerard’s Park Phase II, St Helens – Developer and owner, Northern Trust, having developed and fully let the adjacent Phase I park, has now started work to develop the second and adjacent phase extending to 35,600 sq ft, targeted at smaller business units. The completed units will be ready for occupation in autumn 2021.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “We’ve invested £2.65m to develop these sites right across our city region to ensure that we’re able to offer outstanding facilities that will keep attracting new businesses and jobs. Taken together, these sites are expected to create more than 300 local jobs.

“It’s fantastic to hear that some of the sites already have businesses signing up to take space – I’m sure it won’t be long before others follow.”

Nick Wightman, director of Redsun Projects, added: “The award of funding from the Combined Authority has been essential in kicking starting this development in the middle of a very uncertain time for the market. Construction has progressed really well and we look forward to welcoming occupiers to the completed units early next year.”

All three Light Industrial Fund projects are supported through Local Growth Funding, which is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.