Cost of Cuerden earthworks nearly doubles in four months

The cost of earthworks at the 160-acre Cuerden strategic site south of Preston, which is due to host a £430m mixed-use development, has increased from £2m to nearly £4m since site investigations began in January.

Lancashire County Council, Brookhouse Group, and Maple Grove Developments began preparatory work on the site at the start of the year. The development is slated to create 4,500 new jobs and up to 210 homes just off the M65.

Lancashire’s Local Enterprise Partnership approved a £2m package of remediation works on 18 January this year, but yesterday approved an increase in works of £1.8m, taking the total cost of land remediation to £3.8m.

The cost increases have been due to the additional cost of aggregates, which has added half a million pounds, while the disposal of additional waste material and trees has added £850,000. The original cost estimate has also been revised upwards by around £400,000.

The earthworks contract is expected to start on 1 May, and will run to 30 April 2020.

The University of Salford’s archaeological department has carried out investigative digs across approximately 15 trenches, each up to 40m long over a two-week period earlier this year.

Maple Grove Developments, part of Eric Wright Group, and Brookhouse were appointed as development partners by Lancashire County Council, and planning permission for the scheme was granted by South Ribble Council in September last year.

Overall, the site will include 861,000 sq ft of industrial space, 387,000 sq ft of offices, 757,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, an 120-bed 86,000 sq ft hotel, and 120,500 sq ft for a gym, crèche and car showroom. Ikea has been secured as a pre-let tenant.

DLA Architecture, Barton Willmore, Lambert Smith Hampton, B8 Real Estate and JLL are advising on the project.