Parkside Regeneration begins public consultation on phase 2 of its huge Liverpool city region logistics complex that would see 1.6m sq ft added to phase 1’s 800,000 sq ft. Tony McDonough reports

Parkside Regeneration says phase 2 of its scheme will see 1.6m sq ft of industrial space

Parkside Regeneration is pushing on with plans for phase 2 of transforming the former Parkside Colliery in Newton-le-Willows into a huge logistics complex.

In March this year St Helens Council approved a ‘reserved matters’ planning application for 800,000 sq ft of logistics and industrial space in a project costing around £80m. 

Phase 2 will comprise a further 1.2m sq ft of space and will cost significantly more. Parkside aims to submit a hybrid planning application which will ask for outline consent for buildings and detailed consent for infrastructure by the end of August.

This week it has launched an online public consultation – parksideconsultation.com – for eleven days, closing on Thursday, July 18.

The second phase will seek permission to house advanced manufacturing businesses alongside more of the blue-chip logistics operators that were the focus of phase one.

“Phase two of Parkside has the potential to generate around £100m of annual economic output,” said John Downes, chairman of Parkside Regeneration, and also group chief executive of Langtree.

“This is a transformational number which, when added to the GVA from our first phase, promises a step-change for the local and regional economy.”

Homes in the parts of Newton-le-Willows closest to the site, as well as in neighbouring Lowton and Winwick, were leafleted over the weekend with details of the consultation website and how to participate.

A wider leafleting programme to more than 11,000 homes and business premises started on Monday.

Members of the Parkside Community Forum, which includes local residents, community leaders, councillors and businesspeople, are also being asked to share details of the consultation site amongst their own networks.

READ MORE: Parkside reaches out to thousand of suppliers

Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Leisure, added: “This is an opportunity for residents in Newton-le-Willows and across our borough to have their say on how we make the most of the opportunities that this second phase at Parkside can bring.

“In this second phase we want to focus on particular opportunities for advanced manufacturing that will bring long-term, high-quality jobs to our borough, so we want to hear your views on the plans.”

Spawforths are the planning consultants for the scheme, with Curtins advising on highways and transport matters, Fletcher Rae the architects and TPM Landscape the landscape architects.