Construction work set to start on multi-million pound, 97,000 sq ft commercial development in Liverpool with agents now seeking an occupier. Tony McDonough reports

Davos Property Developments will start building a speculative 97,000 sq ft warehouse scheme in south Liverpool early in 2023.

Located next to Speke Boulevard, Speke 100 is on a 12-acre site that is already home to retail outlets including Home Bargains and Costa Coffee. Davos secured planning consent for the project in October.

It has appointed agents at B8 Real Estate to find an occupier for the multi-million pound development. It is within two miles of Liverpool Airport, JLR’s manufacturing plant and Speke’s pharmaceutical cluster.

This high-bay unit will include offices on two floors, car parking and 50-metre service yard along with a range of ‘green’ features such as EV charging points and secure bicycle storage.

B8 says the building is available to let at a current rent of around £7.50 per sq ft. However, this will be reviewed next year given the shortage of available stock in the market.

Jon Thorne, who leads the agency team at B8, said: “Speke 100 is one of the largest single unit opportunities currently available in this part of Liverpool.

“Despite the current macroeconomic issues, we expect it to attract strong interest, given its strategic location and the continued strong demand from occupiers for high-quality warehouse and industrial space.”

News about Speke 100 comes as another major industrial development is ‘called in’ for a planning inquiry by Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove.

Developer Langtree had previously secured outline planning consent for the £180m, 3.1m sq ft Six56 in from Warrington Council. However, on Tuesday, it was confirmed the project was now being called in.