Application submitted for Parkside Colliery warehouses
Langtree and joint venture partner St Helens Council have submitted a planning application for the first phase of redevelopment of the 270-acre former coal mine at Newton-le-Willows, which includes up to 1m sq ft of industrial and logistics space.
The application also proposes several junction improvements on the A49.
St Helens Council is hoping for an additional £2.2m in business rates from the new occupiers.
Parkside Regeneration, the JV between Langtree and St Helens Council, was formed to redevelop the coal mine that closed in 1993. The partners were aiming to submit a planning application last year, but said it made several changes to its original plans in response to an extensive public consultation exercise.
“The demand for logistics and manufacturing space continues to be very strong and our proposals meet a clear need in the market,” said John Downes, group managing director of Langtree and chairman of the Parkside Regeneration joint venture company.
“We are keen to ensure that our investment benefits the local community as much as possible and have put in place arrangements with the Northern Logistics Academy and St Helens Chamber of Commerce to maximise the number of training opportunities for local people and to ensure robust engagement with a local supply chain.”
A new link road in to the site from junction 22 of the M6 was suggested by the public during last year’s consultation and has been carried forward by St Helens Council.
No date has yet been set for the planning application to be heard, although it is expected to be ruled upon in the summer following the council’s own consultation on the proposals.
The planning advisor is Spawforths, and the architect is Fletcher Rae.
