Glenbrook details £100m Wigan sheds approved at appeal

Meridian 6 has secured its first occupier. Dino Decking is due to take 60,500 sq ft at the 517,400 sq ft complex, which is the subject of three recent reserved matters applications.

Meridian 6 was listed as having a GDV of £100m in 2023, the year that the Planning Inspectorate sided with Glenbrook to have the 45-acre industrial estate approved – despite part of its location sitting on Green Belt in Ashton-in-Makerfield.

Now, three years later, applications have been put forward for the warehouse spaces themselves.

The project teams for each include architect AEW Architects, planner Newmark, landscape architect Urban Green, transport consultant DTA, and engineer SGi. In addition to leading the planning part of the project, Newmark is the joint agent for the industrial estate alongside B8RE.

Access to the site would be from a junction off Bolton Road. The site itself sits south east of South Lancashire Industrial Estate, within a 10-minute drive of the M6.

Dino Decking’s acquisition

The shed reserved for Dino Decking is the subject of application reference A/26/100796/RMMAJ. This centres of 8.6 acres.

Dino Decking has acquired the freehold of the site, pending planning permission, for an undisclosed sum.

The proposed 60,500 unit would comprise of a purpose-built 3,000 sq ft workshop, 52,300 sq ft warehouse, a 4,800 sq ft office, and a 300 sq ft security gatehouse for the decking company.

There would be five-level access loading doors on the site, alongside two dock levellers.

In terms of parking, there would be space for 34 vans to park and 83 cars, with five bays set to be accessible.

Dino Decking co-owner Matthew King said that the company had been actively looking for a freehold industrial site close to its current base at Hindley Green Industrial Estate for some time.

Regarding Meridian 6, King said: “Its proximity – less than four miles from our existing facility – allows us to retain both our workforce and established customer base.

“Meridian 6 is going to be an undoubted success, and we are pleased to be the anchor occupier of this fabulous development.”

Newmark partner Jason Print said: “Glenbrook’s proactive approach to development at Meridian 6 has ensured that key infrastructure and power are already in place – both critical factors in attracting occupiers.

“With a shortage of high-quality industrial stock in the area, Dino Decking’s commitment to relocate exemplifies the continued ‘flight to quality’ we are seeing across the market.”

The seven-shed complex

A second reserved matters application focuses on building seven industrial units on 25 acres of Meridian 6.

These warehouses would range from 25,800 sq ft to 63,200 sq ft, totalling 285,600 sq ft.

A series of 182 trees are due to be planted as part of the application, which also includes provision for 408 parking bays, 85 electric vehicle charging stations, and 144 cycle parking spaces.

The reference for this application is A/26/100797/RMMAJ.

The largest shed

Glenbrook’s largest single unit for Meridian 6 is due to be a 171,300 sq ft building with 144 car parking spaces. This shed would include 162,900 sq ft of warehouse space and 8,100 sq ft for offices on its first floor. A 300 sq ft gatehouse is also proposed.

This application’s reference number is A/26/100798/RMMAJ.

To review the outline application that these projects pull from, use reference A/21/92036/OUTMAJ on Wigan Council’s planning portal.