Plans have been submitted for a 40-acre employment park in Greater Manchester hoped to provide over 1,000 jobs for the region.
Developer Glenbrook says the new Meridian 6 site in Wigan has the potential to create up to 1,200 jobs, with the new industrial space hoped to meet the "significant regional demand" from SMEs, with flexibility to react to market needs.
The scheme will adjoin the existing South Lancashire Industrial Estate in Ashton in Makerfield, and will provide an initial investment of £70m into the borough.
The site, which will consist of up to 625,000 sq ft of new industrial space, has been allocated for employment use in Wigan Council’s unitary development plan since 2006.
Dan Symonds, development manager at Glenbrook, said: “Demand for industrial space is at an all-time high outstripping supply. Meridian 6 will provide much needed new accommodation whilst helping to secure new jobs and attract further investment to this area of Greater Manchester.
"We would like to thank everyone who engaged during the public consultation. The feedback received was useful, particularly around biodiversity, which has been reflected in the design layout with increased structured landscaping and greenspace.
"Once planning is determined we will be on site early in the New Year delivering the infrastructure works without delay.”
Dominic Page, associate, planning at Gerald Eve, added: "Meridian 6 represents the last remaining strategic allocated employment site without planning permission in Wigan.
"The current proposals would unlock this long-standing allocation, delivering a first phase of industrial accommodation that could be expanded across the wider site in future.
"Meridian 6 will also help to reduce the pressure for development on unallocated and Green Belt sites in Wigan as developers struggle to find enough land to satisfy continued strong market demand.”
The design team includes AEW Architects, Gerald Eve as planning consultant and civil and structural engineers, SGI.
