Northern Trust completes £4m St Helens sheds

Main contractor MJ Fellows has wrapped up work on the second phase of the developer’s Gerards Park industrial project, building 20 workshops ranging from 820 sq ft to 2,900 sq ft.

In total, the units have 35,770 sq ft of industrial space between them – all located off College Street in St Helens. Larger sheds also offer integral office space and all units have access to parking.

Northern Trust director Mike Grindrod said the workshops have proven popular, with 14 out of the 20 occupied.

“Considering the current economic climate, this development shows our commitment to investing in the St Helens area whilst facilitating growth and creating jobs,” he said.

Part of the funding for the £4m project came from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Local Growth Fund.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Across the city region we’re investing in transformational developments like Gerards Park that will help us to keep attracting new jobs, businesses and investment into the area.

“The £1m we’ve injected into the site means that St Helens will continue to grow and succeed, with local people seeing the benefits through new jobs and training opportunities.”

The first phase of Gerards Park was completed in 2012. Both phases of the project are managed by Northern Trust’s in-house managing agent Whittle Jones.

John Marrow, regional property director at Whittle Jones, said: “The demand for the new space has been encouraging with this development providing much-needed workshop accommodation for small and medium-sized enterprises looking to set up or relocate to the area.”

With the addition of the 35,770 sq ft second phase of Gerards Park, Northern Trust’s industrial and office portfolio is now more than 8m sq ft across the country.