Network Space has been granted planning consent at its 30 acre strategic development site called Mere Grange in St Helens. The mixed-use site is located directly off the A570 St Helens Linkway providing immediate access to the M62 and St Helens town centre.
The consent allows for the phased delivery of an industrial/warehouse scheme at the east section of the site with the west section being able to accommodate up to 120 housing units. Network Space is working alongside the Homes and Communities Agency and St Helens Council to now advance the first 90,250 sq ft phase which will be made up of four new industrial/warehouse units ranging in size between 17,500 sq ft and 26,500 sq ft. The site is also able to accommodate further phases of industrial/warehouse development totalling 60,000 sq ft and enquiries are being invited from occupiers seeking to secure space.
Works are expected to commence in 2017 with the potential to deliver new housing and over 400 new jobs whilst attracting over £13.5m of private investment into the area.
Councillor John Fulham, Cabinet Member for Growth said, ““The Council has worked closely with the Homes and Communities Agency and Network Space to bring forward the next stage of Mere Grange and it is exciting to see further development. We know from speaking to businesses across the Borough there’s a real need for smaller, modern light industrial units to support growing small and medium sized businesses and it is welcome to see a private developer, which has a strong local record, investing to meet that need. This is good news for St Helens”.
Deputy Leader, Councillor Andy Bowden added, “St Helens is very supportive of new developments such as this. We need more business space of this type in St Helens to support new job creation and to also secure more business rate income. The business rate income from schemes such as this are essential for us to be able to maintain services in the future.”
Stephen Barnes, Managing Director (Development) for Network Space said, “Securing consent at Mere Grange is a further key milestone in the delivery of this strategic mixed use employment and residential site. We expect to deliver the first phase of development during 2017 and do so at a time when there is so little good quality new stock available in the market given the lack of supply over the last 8 years. Initial enquiry levels have been very encouraging.”