Panattoni plans £135m logistics hub in Warrington
Having acquired a 30-acre brownfield site at Hardwick Grange, the developer has outlined its ambitions to demolish the existing buildings and replace them with a BREEAM Outstanding industrial park.
Panattoni, alongside partner Mitsui Fudosan, purchased the property from Firethorn and English Real Estates for an undisclosed sum. Those companies had acquired it in December 2023 from British Steel Pension Fund for £22m, according to HM Land Registry data. Firethorn subsidiary Firethorn Warrington then grew it from a 21.5-acre plot to a 30-acre one. As of December 2024, Firethorn Warrington’s investment property was valued at £38.5m, according to data from Companies House.
Panattoni’s proposals for the site, which are subject to planning, would have an estimated GDV of £135m. The developer is targeting an EPC rating of A and to achieve net zero carbon in construction. Lichfields is the planner for the project, with a planning application due early next year.
Dan Burn, head of development for the North West and Yorkshire at Panattoni said: “We are delighted to have acquired this major strategic site in Warrington.
“The obsolete buildings are at the end of their economic life, and our intention is to bring forward a high-quality, sustainable redevelopment that reflects both the site’s potential and its importance to the local economy,” he continued.
The current industrial estate sits adjacent to Junction 21 of the M6. It includes three units of 432,200 sq ft, which had been let to Morrisons on a long lease. Morrisons’ brand Safeway had occupied the site historically, although recently it had been the home of Iceland.
Reflecting on the sale, Firethorn partner Chris Webb said: “Securing the lease surrender with the tenant Morrisons has unlocked the opportunity to move this brownfield site forward, and it has been a pleasure working with both Morrisons to deliver this.
“The sale of the Hardwick Grange site will unlock the next phase of this site’s potential, with Panattoni well placed to deliver this ambitious redevelopment project to the benefit of the local area.”
DTRE represented Panattoni on the deal. CMS was Panattoni’s legal counsel. Maples Teesdale acted for Firethorn.
Why do all distribution centres need to be light gray in colour – why not be manufactured in dark green to fit/blend in and not look so obtrusive . They are absolutely a blight on our landscape.
By Carol
Why call it a top quality industrial park when it’s yet another big shed for briefly storing more stuff from China, shifted round by low-wage and/or agency workers? At least this one isn’t replacing a manufacturing site, but still no sign of an actual industrial strategy, regionally or nationally.
By Anonymous
Will that provide an opportunity for 600,000 sq ft of solar panels on the roofs then?
By Anonymous
Brilliant, right next to the proposed industrial site that is Parkside, which will come complete with a lovely 24/7 freight terminal next to Kenyon Hall Farm (yes really). Enabler for Mr Burnham and Jim Radcliffe et al to build a new Old Trafford. Absolute joke. The M6 in the area can’t cope now having just gone to four lanes. Who are these people that give the go ahead to these schemes? I say one thing at least this one is building on existing brownfield site, not compulsory purchasing a huge area of good greenbelt farmland. Welcome to a broken area irrevocably changed by our bright leaders, for money not YOU or I.
By Simon
Another totally automated warehouse that will employ next to no staff like the new home bargains site it’s a joke
By Anonymous
Hmm. A site that for roughly best part of 40 years has been a Safe way site, briefly Morrisons,then Iceland to be knocked down and redeveloped into probably more warehousing..creating jobs. And people still unhappy???
By Anonymous