Catalyst Business Park in Widnes would cover 96 acres
The giant Catalyst Business Park development would reshape the waterfront area of Widnes(Image: FI Real Estate Management)
Ambitious plans have been lodged for a huge commercial and industrial development which would reshape vast swathes of Widnes waterfront and create thousands of potential new jobs.
Lea Valley Ltd has submitted a planning application for a scheme dubbed Catalyst Business Park. Spanning 96 acres – the equivalent of around 64 football pitches – the site off Earle Road and Tanhouse Lane would stretch between The Hive Leisure Park and what remains of the now mostly demolished Fiddler’s Ferry power station.
It would see construction of 1.8 million sq ft of floor space in units ranging in size from 1,000 to 500,000 sq ft for varying potential uses.
Depending on which companies move in to the units once complete, roles created could be between 1,675 and 3,367 – with annual wages of between £71.6 million and £127.1 million going in to the local economy.
After launching a consultation on the scheme, the firm has now submitted a planning application. The planned site would consist of five zones – one of which is in Warrington and would require its council’s planning permission.
A planning statement submitted in support of the scheme said: “Catalyst Business Park and its economic effects will be a significant boost to the local and sub-regional economy and long-term prosperity of Widnes.
“And will be a significant benefit to a local area with significant, deep pockets of deprivation that, in part, is linked to lack of access to good quality, employment opportunities.”
Construction would take place in four phases over a period of 10 years. It said:
“As a site that has been extensively used in the past for heavy chemical engineering and related manufacture, and which contains areas of landfill, there are significant matters relating to ground contamination to be dealt with.
“This forms part of the basis for the planned phasing of development across the site.”
Applicant Lea Valley Limited acquired the site in early 2024 as part of its business plan to grow its portfolio of employment land and property.
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