A strategic logistics scheme in Wigan looks set to go ahead as council officers have recommended approval ahead of a committee meeting.
The plans, submitted by developer Tritax Symmetry in August 2018, will be put to Wigan Council’s planning committee on January 14.
Tritax Symmetry is seeking permission to demolish existing buildings and re-profile the site to include new access from the A49 roundabout, onsite parking, a green buffer to the north of the site and extensive landscaping with the aim to screen the development.
If given the green light, developers said Symmetry Park Wigan - on junction 25 of the M6 - would deliver a total 1.44m sq ft of employment floor space, create 1,200 jobs during construction and up to 1,650 high-quality jobs when operational.
The developer said the £73m construction investment into Wigan would add £3m a year in business rates payments towards Wigan Council’s income.
Andrew Dickman, Director of Tritax Symmetry, said: “We totally understand that people living closest to the site will have concerns about local impacts.
“Our planning application has looked in detail at all the potential environmental impacts and we believe we have a robust proposal.
He continued: “While this is a scheme for people living across Wigan...we also want to make sure we have a positive impact in the local community.
“That’s why we’ve launched a Community Benefit Fund for all our projects, which would see £144,000 made available for local causes in Wigan.”
The benefit fund, which can be used by the community for locally-chosen initiatives, would see a payment of 10p per sq ft of development, if plans get the go ahead, Tritax Symmetry said.
The developers also said they have set up a Local Employment Group, where it works with local stakeholders to offer jobs to people in the area.
Mr Dickman added: “As technological boundaries are pushed there is an increasing demand for skilled workers in the logistics sector and with average salaries significantly higher than the national average, the opportunity is huge.”
Peter Rimmer, chairman of local business group Wigan Forward, added: “With year-on-year growth in online retail sales the demand for logistic sites across the north west is only going to increase.
“Across Greater Manchester we need to be taking advantage of opportunities such as symmetry park Wigan which can deliver thousands of jobs and millions of pounds of investment and business rates.”
