Lockheed Road signposts history of Omega site

A £7m access road to the Omega North development has been named in recognition of the site's place in aviation history.

Named after the major United States aircraft manufacturer, Lockheed Road will open up access to the Omega North development on the site of the former RAF Burtonwood airbase.

Today straddling the M62, the 575-acre Omega Warrington site was occupied by the RAF, US Air Force and US army between 1940 and 1993.

The airfield played a key logistical role in World War II as the largest airfield in Europe with the biggest air maintenance facility and once hosted an American community of 18,000 who lived and worked there.

It is thought that when the site is fully developed, there will be the same number of people living and working on the site as in its airbase hay day.

With one logistics unit just completed for Brakes, another well underway for Hermes, and another about to start for Travis Perkins, around 1400 jobs will be supported on the site through this trio of development.

Only two smaller plots remain for development on Omega North with strong interest in both plots. Lockheed Road will serve all new businesses on Omega North.

Neil Johnston, director at Miller Developments and a partner in Omega Warrington, said: "Our commitment to the Omega site is long-term and as such it seemed only fitting that the new future for Omega should pay homage to its heritage.

"It was an impressive site back then in terms of making a valuable contribution to the war effort and Omega Warrington is very happy that we are injecting life back into the site once more.

"We have a lot to live up to with the number of jobs supported during the site's aviation life; however we have made good progress over the last year and will continue to work hard to bring a whole range of jobs to Warrington."

Omega Warrington is a joint venture between Miller Developments and KUC Properties, part of Royal Bank of Scotland, in partnership with landowner the Homes & Communities Agency and supported by Warrington Council.