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Major employment site at Halsnead Garden Village will breathe new life into former Cronton Colliery site

Plans for a major employment development on the former Cronton Colliery site at Halsnead Garden Village were progressed by the Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday (10 June 2021) following approval for up to 1 million sq ft of new commercial floorspace.

The development will create at least 1,000 new jobs, equating to a £20m annual boost to the local economy.

Halsnead is one of only 14 sites across the country, awarded ‘garden village’ status by the Government in 2017.

The employment element of Halsnead Garden Village is on land previously occupied by Cronton Colliery, to the south of the M62. The planning application by Tritax Symmetry will breathe new life into this moribund site, which has been largely unused following the colliery’s closure in 1984.

The new development will realise a multi-million-pound investment in the logistics and advanced manufacturing sectors, thereby creating highly skilled and well-paid job opportunities.

The Planning Committee approved, in detail, 161,900 sq ft of warehouse and distribution space, vehicle access from Cronton Road and a car park to serve the proposed new Country Park. Outline planning permission was also approved for a further 838,100 sq ft of additional warehouse and distribution facilities.

Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “The number and the quality of jobs that Halsnead Garden Village will create is hugely significant and through our Knowsley Works team we will help as many local residents as possible secure the opportunities that this development will bring. Supply chain infrastructure is vital to the economy as a whole and this development will be of benefit to everyone across the borough. Not only will the employment site create over 1,000 jobs once complete, it will also generate significant employment in its construction.”

Matt Claxton, Planning Director at Tritax Symmetry, commented: “Symmetry Park, Merseyside is one of the very few sites in the North West which will be available to accommodate this scale of development and, with demand at record levels, we are receiving strong occupier interest. I would like to thank both Liverpool City Region and Knowsley Council for their collaborative approach.

“We will appoint a contractor in the coming weeks and will look to build the first unit out speculatively. In line with our net zero carbon pledge, all of these new buildings will be delivered to net zero carbon in construction in line with UK Green Building Council.”

The development is expected to commence later this year.