Morley plots 135,000 sq ft Haydock Green unit 

Having sold the 373,000 sq ft first phase of the St Helens industrial complex to Warrington Council for £46.5m in 2019, the developer is drawing up plans for another shed. 

Morley Estates is preparing to submit a planning application to St Helens Council for a 135,000 sq ft unit at Haydock Green on land next to the first phase, which is let to healthcare services company Movianto. 

The scheme, which a GDV of around £35m, could be vital in helping the borough attract new blue-chip occupiers, giving it a competitive edge, according to B8 Real Estate, retained agent for Haydock Green. 

A previous application for a similar sized building on this plot, next to junction 23 of the M6, was approved in 2018, but that consent was not implemented. 

“The existing planning consent is now almost four years old,” explained Jon Thorne, partner at B8 Real Estate. 

“The market has moved on since then in terms of the specification and unit configuration that occupiers now require, so a change to the planning is required to reflect an updated layout design and specification.” 

It is estimated that the completed project could secure up to 300 jobs. Construction work could start in the second quarter of this year, subject to planning approval. 

The project team comprises Martin Spencer Architects and Roman Summer Associates, which is advising on planning. 

“This development will provide St Helens with a highly attractive site, in a prime location and something that is not currently available in the market,” Thorne added. 

“There is really strong demand in the industrial and logistics sector at the moment, but it’s all about the right offer in the right place and at the right time.”