Second phase of former colliery site transformation praised as ‘truly transformational’
Aerial view showing how the whole Parkside development will look once completed, including the second phase on the left(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Councillors have approved the second and larger phase of the regeneration of Parkside Colliery in Newton-le-Willows.
Parkside Regeneration, the joint venture tasked with delivering the redevelopment of Parkside Colliery, has welcomed approval of the company’s hybrid application for the scheme’s larger second phase.
At its meeting on Tuesday night, St Helens Council’s planning committee resolved to grant detailed consent for enabling and infrastructure works, with building designs to be dealt with under a future reserved matters application. A further 1.6m square feet of logistics and manufacturing space can now be developed – subject to the discharge of a Section 106 agreement and planning conditions – alongside more than 800,000 square feet already consented for the scheme’s first phase.
“This has been a complex process and I’m grateful to all the parties who have helped shape a compelling application, particularly the St Helens Borough Council planning service, whose guidance and support has been invaluable,” explained John Downes, executive chair of developer Langtree, one half of the project joint venture with St Helens Council.
“We’re on site with the clearance works for the project’s first phase and this consent will give added momentum to our work on local supply chain engagement, labour recruitment and schools engagement. It’s particularly pleasing to see our extensive investment in public open space and landscaped trails given detailed consent.
“Phase two will give the project a different complexion, with the addition of manufacturing space. This will boost the variety, type and earnings potential of jobs on site and enable occupiers to tap into another facet of the area’s skills-base. St Helens, and Newton-le-Willows in particular, is a manufacturing heartland and the perfect place to bring advanced manufacturing and engineering jobs.”
The scheme’s second phase is expected to add around £70 million per annum to the borough’s economic output.
Cllr Richard McCauley, cabinet member for regeneration at St Helens Council, said: “The Parkside Regeneration is a truly transformational development that has been decades in the making and it will generate lasting opportunities for the people of Newton-le-Willows, St Helens borough, and for the wider Liverpool City Region as its forms a core part of the LCR Freeport.
“The phase two development shows a continued commitment to social value, ensuring residents and businesses in our borough will directly benefit for generations to come, alongside the inclusion of measures to protect local communities and the environment. Approval of the Parkside Regeneration phase two application is a major step forward in our support for a strong, thriving, inclusive and well-connected local economy, as outlined in our borough strategy and inclusive growth strategy, and I am excited to see the development progress.”
Parkside sits within Liverpool City Region Freeport, which offers occupiers a wide range of tax benefits, of particular attraction to manufacturing companies with capital-intensive fit-out requirements. The new Parkside Link Road takes vehicles efficiently onto the national motorway network and to the port of Liverpool via Junction 22 of the M6 and via the M62.
The first of a planned series of ‘meet the buyer’ events was held in the autumn for local sub-contractors keen to supply the site as building work ramps up. More than 80 interview sessions were conducted at the event, which was held at the Brewdog Stadium, for work relating to the forthcoming groundworks for phase one development at Parkside. The successful bidder is expected to be announced imminently.
Almost 200 firms are registered with the project, with support provided to applicants with regards to main contractors’ pre-qualification requirements. Any business still wishing to register can do so via https://parksidem6.com/local-suppliers/
Spawforths is the planning consultant for the scheme, with Curtins advising on highways, Chroma as project managers, Fletcher Rae the architects and TPM Landscape the landscape architects. Cundall are the structural and civil engineers.
.webp?t=1770212337)
