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TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
development, which includes provision for logistics, sets out the principle for developing the site, as well as more detailed plans for road access and key environmental measures.
So, with all this development activity, how well placed is Lancashire to benefit economically from future logistics growth?
James Scott, director at Maple Grove, believes the county is well-placed, in terms of what has been delivered, the infrastructure that is on its way and its location.
He says that logistics companies are increasingly seeing the benefits of being located in Lancashire, with a growing focus on what the county can offer, and he adds: “There’s a huge demand from occupiers. Manchester has obviously seen huge growth over the past ten to 20 years and the demand from that growth is being borne into Lancashire.”
A DRIVING FORCE FOR GROWTH
Logistics is building momentum in Lancashire. New developments with big sheds are on the drawing board or emerging from the ground at key strategic sites across the county.
To the east, Frontier Park in Burnley is moving ahead at pace. The site, off junction 9 of the M65, is being developed by Monte Blackburn.
It follows the success of the original Frontier Park, which also sits on a prime site off the M65 on a gateway to Blackburn, and which has attracted major logistics operations.
Meanwhile, the sheds on the £100m Botany Bay Business Park development on the M61 at Chorley are fast rising out of the ground and, like Frontier Park, it is in a prime position for logistics operations.
FI Real Estate Management (FIREM) is currently constructing 33 units totalling 405,386 sq ft of space in the first phase of the project, with planning permission granted for phase two, which will see a further 322,560 sq ft developed.
Planning permission has been granted for APTUS, an 800,000 sq ft strategic employment site in Preston, which its developers say could lead to the creation of 1,500 new jobs. The site, close to Junction 31A of the M6 and Preston city centre, will be developed by HBD and Barnfield Group.
Topping them all, the biggest proposed development in the county has also got the green light - the landmark 1.6 million sq ft Lancashire Central site, at Cuerden.
Developers say the scheme has already received ‘strong interest’ from local, regional and national companies.
The figures behind the plan are impressive. Lancashire County Council and its development partner Maple Grove Developments believe it has the potential to create up to 5,600 full time jobs once in operation and add an annual £390m to the local economy.
Outline planning permission for the mixed-use SUPPORTED BY:
Looking specifically at the Lancashire Central development he says: “The real trick here for us, and the county council as our partner, is to be able to get to that place where we are able to get on site and deliver.
“It’s a great site, on the M65 terminus roundabout and near to the M61 and the M6. It couldn’t really be located any better.
“We’ve got the ability there to deliver a single footprint building of about 650,000 ft and there aren’t many places in the North West where there is that ability to do that.”
He adds: “We’ve got a real opportunity here to deliver much needed jobs. The benefits for a scheme like this for Lancashire are enormous and we just need to be able to move it to the next stage.”
Simon Lawrence, director of growth and regeneration at Lancashire County Council is also upbeat when it comes to the future direction of travel.
The Lancashire 2050 strategic framework includes transport and infrastructure and Cuerden was part of the county’s big investment pitch at this year’s UK REiiF (UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum) gathering.
Simon believes both devolution and levelling- up will remain on the agenda of the new government, both areas where the county can benefit. He says: “That is going to make Lancashire more attractive nationally and internationally. It will attract more investment for infrastructure and that’s really crucial for us.”
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