Government reveals NWDA assets transferring to HCA
The Government has revealed the land and property assets being transferred from the North West Development Agency to the Homes & Communities Agency.
The NWDA is one of eight Regional Development Agencies in England being closed by March next year after the coalition government announced it would be replacing them with local enterprise partnerships.
However, the Government stated in April that the newly formed LEPs or local authorities would not be given land and property assets owned by Regional Development Agencies, but said a majority will be sold on the open market.
Last month, the Government announced that land and property assets owned by the RDAs will be transferred to the HCA.
The Government said a total of 36 of the NWDA's assets will be transferred to the HCA, with 14 also transferring to the agency if they are not sold.
Mark Hughes, chief executive at the NWDA, said: "As part of the Government's new policies towards economic development and regeneration, the NWDA will cease operations on 31st March 2012, with functions terminated or transferred to successor bodies.
"The transfer of NWDA Land and Property assets and associated projects and contracts to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the latest step in this process.
"The Agency will continue to work closely with central Government, partners and stakeholders to ensure the transition is handled efficiently to deliver maximum benefit to the regional economy. We are communicating directly with grant applicants and contract holders affected by the transfer, to ensure it does not cause any disruption to their activities."
Among the assets being transferred to the HCA are Estuary Commerce Park and the former Littlewoods Building on Edge Lane in Liverpool.
Cllr Malcolm Kennedy, Liverpool City Council cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: "This transfer is far preferable to the 'fire sale' of assets which was what appeared to have been in the original thinking about their disposal. We would look to work with the HCA to ensure that this land and property is developed in such a way to benefit the city."
The Department for Business Innovation & Skills said the total value of the land and property assets as at March 2011 was over £300m; half the value of the total portfolio transferring to HCA.
Pat Ritchie, chief executive of the HCA, said: "Today's announcement marks a key milestone in the RDA land and property asset transfer to the HCA. We look forward to the completion of this process, and building on our existing relationships with local partners to deliver the best outcome for local communities through future development and disposal of the former RDA assets."
The HCA said it will work with local partners to develop, invest in and dispose of assets, through stewardship arrangements, in pursuit of the economic development and regeneration objectives agreed by local partners including local enterprise partnerships and in support of local strategies.
HCA added it will be establishing local stewardship partnerships with the local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, businesses and other local partners, who will play a key role in helping to determine the future of these assets in line with local objectives. The assets will sit as a national programme within the HCA's work, which will be accountable to Government for the effective management and disposal of the portfolio.
Deborah McLaughlin, executive director North West at the HCA, said: "We are already working to establish a number of Local Stewardship Partnerships to look at how these sites can be managed, invested in and disposed of in a way that brings the maximum local benefits and delivers value for money.
"This builds on our work with partners, who we already support on important projects identified as part of the Local Investment Plan process we have been working with them to develop."
This transfer is the second stage of RDA asset transfer to the HCA. In August, the agency inherited a portfolio of 52 coalfield land and property assets from the RDAs, the majority of which were previously owned by the agency, formerly English Partnerships, as part of the National Coalfields programme.
The process to transfer the remaining RDA land and property assets to the HCA is due for completion on 19 September.
Below is a table of assets for sale on the open market or transfer from NWDA to HCA.
- White rows are assets transferring to HCA
- Those in bold are assets which will transfer to HCA if not sold
|
Asset Title |
Address |
|
Hooton Business Park, North Road, Ellesmere Port |
Hooton Business Park, North Road, Ellesmere Port |
|
Rossmore Road, Ellesmere Port |
Rossmore Road, Ellesmere Port |
|
Car Park adjacent to Renaissance House, Centre Park, Warrington |
Land adjacent to Renaissance House, Centre Park, Warrington |
|
Lillyhall Business Park, Workington, Cumbria |
Lillyhall Business Park, Workington, Cumbria |
|
Lillyhall East Industrial Estate, Workington, Cumbria |
Lillyhall East Industrial Estate, Workington, Cumbria |
|
Lillyhall North Industrial Estate, Workington, Cumbria |
Lillyhall North Industrial Estate, Workington, Cumbria |
|
Lillyhall West Industrial Estate, Workington, Cumbria |
Lillyhall West Industrial Estate, Workington, Cumbria |
|
Station Road, Silloth, Cumbria |
Station Road, Silloth, Cumbria |
|
Borders Business Park, Longtown, Cumbria |
Borders Business Park, Longtown, Cumbria |
|
Devonshire Road Industrial Estate, Millom, Cumbria |
Devonshire Road Industrial Estate, Millom, Cumbria |
|
Whitehaven Commercial Park, Moresby Park, Whitehaven, Cumbria |
Whitehaven Commercial Park, Moresby Park, Whitehaven, Cumbria |
|
Ancoats Urban Village, Ancoats, Manchester |
Ancoats Urban Village, Ancoats, Manchester |
|
Central Park (North Manchester Business Park), Newton Heath, Manchester |
Central Park (North Manchester Business Park), Newton Heath, Manchester |
|
Broadshaw Farm, Broadshaw Lane, Rochdale |
Broadshaw Farm, Broadshaw Lane, Rochdale |
|
Kingsway Business Park, Rochdale |
Kingsway Business Park, Rochdale |
|
Martland Park, Wigan |
Martland Park, Wigan |
|
Former Michelin Plant, Heasandford Industrial Estate, Burnley |
Former Michelin Plant, Heasandford Industrial Estate, Burnley |
|
Victoria Way, Rawtenstall, Rossendale |
Victoria Way, Rawtenstall, Rossendale |
|
Windy Arbour Road, Huyton Industrial Estate, Huyton, Knowsley |
Windy Arbour Road, Huyton Industrial Estate, Huyton, Knowsley |
|
Boulevard Industry Park, Speke, Liverpool |
Boulevard Industry Park, Speke, Liverpool |
|
Cross Keys House, Moorfields, Liverpool |
Cross Keys House, 33 – 41 (odd) Moorfields, Liverpool |
|
Edge Lane No. 353 -355 and Edge Lane No. 73-81, Liverpool |
73 – 81 (odd) Edge Lane and 353 – 355 (odd) Edge Lane, Liverpool |
|
Estuary – Aerodrome Complex, Speke, Liverpool |
Estuary – Aerodrome Complex, Speke, Liverpool |
|
Estuary – National Bio Manufacturing Centre, Speke, Liverpool |
Estuary – National Bio Manufacturing Centre, Speke, Liverpool |
|
Estuary Commerce Park, Speke, Liverpool |
Estuary Commerce Park, Liverpool |
|
Former Littlewoods Building, Edge Lane, Liverpool |
Edge Lane Liverpool |
|
Harbord Street Industrial Estate, Harbord Street, Liverpool |
Harbord Street Industrial Estate, Liverpool |
|
Jordan Street Industrial Estate, Jordan Street, Liverpool |
Land at Jordan Street, Liverpool |
|
Kingston House, James Street, Liverpool |
Kingston House, Strand, Liverpool |
|
Liverpool Digital, Edge Lane, Liverpool |
Building 3, Liverpool Digital, Edge Lane, Liverpool |
|
Mann Island, Liverpool |
Mann Island, Liverpool |
|
Land at Rear of Mercury Court, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool |
Land at the rear of Mercury Court, Liverpool |
|
Speke Freeholds, Speke, Liverpool |
Speke Freeholds, Speke, Liverpool |
|
Stonebridge Business Park, Gilmoss, Liverpool |
Stonebridge Business Park, Gillmoss, Liverpool |
|
Venture Point, Speke, Liverpool |
Venture Point Estate, Speke, Liverpool |
|
Land at Wavertree Technology Park, Wavertree, Liverpool |
Land at Wavertree Technology Park, Wavertree, Liverpool |
|
Lea Green Industrial Estate, Lea Green Road, St Helens, Merseyside |
Lea Green Industrial Estate, Lea Green Road, St Helens, Merseyside |
|
Croft Business Park, Bromborough, Wirral |
Croft Business Park, Bromborough |
|
New Chester Road, Rock Ferry, Wirral |
New Chester Road, Tranmere |
|
Wirral International Business Park, Bromborough, Wirral |
Wirral International Business Park, Bromborough, Wirral |
|
Unit 18-24 Faraday Road, Wavertree Technology Park, Liverpool |
20b Faraday Rd, Wavertree Technology Park, Wavertree |
|
Liverpool Digital (Archive), Edge Lane, Liverpool |
Building 18, Liverpool Digital, Edge Lane, Liverpool |
|
Lakeland Business Park, Cockermouth, Cumbria |
Lakeland Business Park, Cockermouth, Cumbria |
|
Sub- Station, Burnley Road, Altham, Lancashire (F/H Residual) |
Land on the South Side of Burnley Road, Altham |
|
Hometrades Warehouse, Liverpool (F/H Reversion) |
Land on the north and south sides of Burlington Street and Chisenhale Street, Liverpool |
|
Sefton Business Park, Aintree, Sefton, Merseyside (L/H Reversion) |
Land lying to the south of Park Lane, Aintree |
|
Chapel St, Egremont, Cumbria |
Chapel Street Industrial Estate, Egremont |
|
Derwent Howe, Workington |
Land at Derwent Howe Industrial Estate |
|
Land Rear of Matchworks, Speke, Liverpool (F/H) |
Land Rear of Matchworks, Speke, Liverpool (F/H) |
|
Land at Cornwall St Parr Industrial Estate, St Helens, Merseyside |
Land at Cornwall Street, Parr Industrial Estate, St Helens |
