Asda shed approved at Omega

Warrington Council has passed plans for the latest phase of the Omega development at junction 8 of the M62: a 600,000 sq ft distribution facility for Asda.

Joint applicants Omega Warrington and Bericote, Asda's developer, will deliver the large warehouse on a 28-acre site in the south of the development.

The Asda shed will be the fourth building at Omega. The first three are set to make up Omega North, above the motorway, and are all either on site or due on site shortly for occupiers Brakes, 200,00 sq ft, Travis Perkins, 600,000 sq ft, and Hermes, 150,000 sq ft.

Asda was in talks with Omega Warrington, the joint venture between Miller Developments and KUC Properties, part of Royal Bank of Scotland, on the north side initially but was outbid by Travis Perkins.

The shed for Asda will be the first building on the larger Omega South part of the development.

Meanwhile, Miller has released the latest draft of its emerging masterplan for Omega South, which is likely to include residential, offices and further distribution space. There will also be community facilities and a lake in the centre of the site. Archial is advising Omega Warrington on the masterplan.

Omega South has outline planning consent in place for 1.5m sq ft of office accommodation which the developer said will be delivered "when there is market demand."

Andrew Sutherland, joint managing director of Miller Developments, said: "This positive decision is extremely important for Omega South. Not only will it bring a new occupier and more jobs to Warrington but this first logistics development will also deliver a vital new £6m access road and roundabout. This will open up development opportunities within Omega South and, as has happened on Omega North, serve to accelerate occupier interest in the office and business plots already consented."

The 575-acre development area of Omega is owned by the Homes & Communities Agency.

Completion of the Asda warehouse is due in 12 months' time.

Agents for Omega are Jones Lang LaSalle and GVA. Bericote represented Asda.