Press
WORK STARTS ON 1ST PHASE OF NEW £7.5 MILLION GERARDS PARK, 30,000 SQ FT INDUSTRIAL SCHEME IN ST HELENS
2nd December 2011
Northern Trust has celebrated the start of work on the first phase of their new site at St Helens with an official sod cutting ceremony. The brownfield site on College Street was purchased from St Helens Council following a competitive tender.
With the assistance of European Regional Development Fund money, Northern Trust plan to develop out the site in three phases, the first of which will comprise 30,677 sq ft of new high quality workspace units.
The first phase of the development will comprise 21 units split into three blocks, ranging in size from 535 sq ft up to 3,779 sq ft. Units over c500 sq ft will also include a fully fitted office. Concrete service yards will provide adequate circulation and loading facilities and there will be ample car parking and quality landscaping around the scheme. The development plans will achieve a BREEAM rating of excellent, and will also include construction of a new estate road, full site servicing and highways improvements.
The sod cutting ceremony held on Thursday 1st December was attended by Councillors Andy Bowden, Cabinet Member for Urban Regeneration and Housing and Bob Hepworth, Director of Urban Regeneration and Housing; Development Director, Mike Grindrod, and Andrew Beattie, Project Manager from Northern Trust.
Mike Grindrod, commented “Despite the current difficult economic climate, the Board of Northern trust has taken the decision to commence the first phase of this £7.5 million, 80,000 sq ft development at Gerards Park. This shows our confidence in the product we offer for the benefit of SMEs and will bring forward further investment in the region.”
Councillor Andy Bowden, added “This is a key site en route into the town centre. The development brings this derelict site back into use and will be a very welcome addition to our business offer.”
The site remediation will also bring forward a further 3 acres for the future phased development, and initial plans include the provision of a c30,000 sq ft modern office building which could be available on a pre-let basis.
Sir Howard Bernstein, Vice Chair of the North West European Regional Development Fund Local Management Committee said “By providing state of the art work spaces in St Helens, this project will safeguard and create jobs in the area. Local people, businesses and the local economy will all benefit as local enterprises are given a competitive boost and other firms are attracted to St Helens.”
The new development to be known as Gerards Park is located on College Street, a half mile from the town centre on the main arterial route between the town Centre and the A580 (East Lancashire Road).
The new development will be managed and marketed by Northern Trust’s in house management company Whittle Jones North West, and anyone interested in further details can contact the team on 01257 238666.
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Press Enquiries to Rosalyn Booth, Northern Trust, 01257 238555.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government is making a real difference to people and businesses in the Northwest. With €755 million to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in enterprise and employment.
For further information please visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
