Monte Blackburn puts in for 800,000 sq ft Preston industrial

Having acquired 65 acres off Junction 31A of the M6 from Homes England, the Issa brothers’ development vehicle has submitted an application for its latest Frontier Park venture.

Monte Blackburn’s Frontier Park Preston would feature a variety of speculative units, with the largest potentially being 602,800 sq ft and the smallest unit comprising 8,000 sq ft. There are also two drive thrus of around 2,500 sq ft proposed, with one as EG On the Move.

In total, the industrial park would provide 818,900 sq ft according to the masterplan within the hybrid planning application.

Barrowclough Architects drew up the plans for Monte Blackburn, which were submitted by Freeths to Preston City Council. Adept is the engineer. The developer is hoping to have a planning verdict by the end of the second quarter of 2026.

Alex Kenwright, development projects director at Monte Blackburn, said: “We have built up a strong track record in the region having completed successful schemes at Frontier Park Blackburn and, more recently, in Burnley.

“Our commitment to undertake speculative development underlines our belief in the site and will provide certainty to potential occupiers who are considering site options for either relocation or expansion.”

Monte Blackburn had first signalled its intentions for the site with an EIA scoping opinion request submitted in March. At the time, it was flirting with building more than 900,000 sq ft of logistics space  on the site, however, as the masterplan evolved that number was reduced.

As the masterplan was being worked up, the developer was working on acquiring the site from Homes England for an undisclosed sum. Thomas Lister acting for Homes England and B8RE representing Monte Blackburn.

B8RE has been kept on as the letting agent.

B8RE director Steve Johnson said: “Situated minutes from the M6, Frontier Park Preston will come forward at a time when there are only a limited number of sites across the North West which can accommodate units over 600,000 sq. ft.

“We anticipate strong demand from local and regional occupiers in the Lancashire area who are looking for more modern, sustainable space.”