Tritax Symmetry has completed the off-market acquisition of a 221-acre site in St Helens for an undisclosed price. The developer intends to bring forward a circa 2.5m sq ft logistics scheme and a new strategic rail freight interchange project (SRFI) on the site known as Parkside East, which is located in the Liverpool City Region freeport zone.
Tritax Symmetry is working up a detailed masterplan and will apply for a development consent order (DCO) to allow the development of the whole project.
Andrew Dickman, managing director at Tritax Symmetry, said: “As a business, we have been strategically identifying more sustainable projects which align with our own values. With the recent news that the HS2 leg from Birmingham to Manchester has been cancelled, this is a timely public-private sector intervention, that will see significant investment into the Liverpool city region and the wider infrastructure network.
“Parkside East is a major project and one we believe will be an exemplar in providing greener, more efficient solutions, removing freight from main line stations and in doing so alleviating pressure and freeing up passenger capacity.”
Sean Traynor, director of strategic growth at St Helens Borough Council, added: “The adoption of the council’s local plan in 2022 unlocked Parkside East and I am delighted to see this investment by Tritax Symmetry. We are looking forward to working with them alongside our partners at Liverpool City Region to develop a first-class intermodal strategic rail freight interchange, a key feature which makes Parkside East a development site of regional and national importance.”
Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram, said: “Thanks to devolution, with local leaders working together in the best interests of our communities, we’ve been able to take a leading role in the regeneration of sites like Parkside. I am looking forward to seeing the site become a bustling hub of businesses and opportunity.
“It will form a key part of our freeport, which has the potential to attract international investment, create more well-paid, highly-skilled jobs for local people and build on our existing strengths. But, for me, it has to mean much more than that. I want to ensure that there is purpose behind this status that fuels greater social mobility, innovation, and inclusion for our whole region.”
Ingham and Yorke advised the private vendor on the sale. Tritax represented itself.
