Contractor appointed for £5m Winsford infrastructure job
The expansion of Winsford Industrial Estate is progressing with the appointment of civil engineering firm AE Yates to deliver a £5m package of infrastructure works, including new roads and landscaping to unlock further land for development.
The project is the next phase of a five-year expansion of the estate by Cheshire West and Chester Council and its joint venture partner Public Sector Plc, a consultancy that works to advise local authority partners on maximising value from property projects.
CWAC aims to create more than 460,000 sq ft of commercial space on 67 acres of land next to the existing site, enabling the creation of an estimated 1,260 jobs in addition to the 4,000 people and 100 businesses at present.
After starting the development with a 125,000 sq ft manufacturing facility for Tiger Trailers in 2018, CWAC unveiled plans for the second phase comprising a 240,000 sq ft warehouse, 14,500 sq ft hotel, petrol filling station, retail unit, food takeaway and 6,000 sq ft pub.
CWAC expects the engineering improvements to be delivered by AE Yates under the latest contract to unlock land equivalent to the size of 50 football pitches to the north of the current estate.
Winsford Industrial Estate sits off the A54 between Middlewich and Winsford with close proximity to both the M6 motorway and other A-roads that link the estate with Merseyside, Chester and Wales.
The £5m works, funded by a £3.8m grant from Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and £1.2m from the council, are to start this month with social distancing measures in place, the Build & Thrive JV between CWAC and Public Sector Plc said.
Cllr Richard Beacham, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and growth, said: “The development of Winsford Industrial Estate remains a top priority for the council and we are continuing to invest in the site to enable the local community to benefit from its growth and expansion.
“This latest phase is the continuation of a really exciting four-year partnership project to develop the site, which will secure employment in the town and help to give confidence at a time when Covid-19 has created uncertainty for local people and businesses.”
Tim Nield, construction director of AE Yates, added: “We are very pleased to be working…on this very important scheme, to enhance the economic potential of the region, [and] will do our very best to minimise disruption to the local area.”
