LEP loan enables start of work at Cheshire Green
The Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership is to draw up to £3.2m from its Growing Places Fund to unlock the first phase of development at Cheshire Green Industrial Park, a 150-acre site with outline consent for 1.5m sq ft of industrial accommodation.
Cheshire Green is part of the 1,400-acre Haughton Estate and is located in Wardle on the A51 at the former Calveley Airfield site. The site is surrounded by existing business premises, including the headquarters of agricultural distributor NWF.
Six miles from Crewe, the site offers access southwards to junction 16 of the M6, while northbound offers connections to Warrington, the M56 and junction 20 of the M6. HOW Planning secured detailed consent in May to create a roundabout to access the site from the A51.
On behalf of developer Cheshire Green Employment Park, main contractor Jones Bros Civil Engineering is now at work implementing the first phase of development with the construction of that roundabout and access roads into the site.
Phillip Posnett, director of CGEP, said: “The funding and support of the LEP for the first phase of Cheshire Green Industrial Park is a positive step for the development of much needed industrial and distribution space in Cheshire East and the North West region.
“We have been encouraged by the initial level of enquiries from businesses and now with a definitive time line we can now work with them to bring them on to the site which will lead to great employment opportunities here.”
Matthew Pochin, director at Legat Owen, which is joint agent for the scheme with Fisher German, added: “Crewe has become a much sought-after location for distribution and logistics businesses. With a lack of supply available, Cheshire Green is an opportunity to cater for this demand and provide occupiers with a range of design and build solutions to suit and we can provide all the support that occupiers may need.
“Cheshire Green wants to create a park with well designed and built industrial and distribution units all within a sustainable and well-maintained environment that helps businesses that call it home be more successful.” Plots of up to 20 acres are available freehold or leasehold.
Philip Cox, chief executive of Cheshire & Warrington LEP, said: “Cheshire Green is an important site that will support the continued growth of our economy. I’m delighted to confirm this investment from the Growing Places Fund to deliver the infrastructure needed to kickstart the development of the site.”
Growing Places Funds are loan funds, set up by the DCLG and Department for Transport in 2011, that seek to enable projects that otherwise could not move forward due to difficulty in assembling a commercially viable funding package.
