Liberty Property Trust (a Prologis company) and Stoford Developments have completed the construction of two speculative industrial/logistics units at a £45million development in Staffordshire, which could create up to 700 jobs.
The new buildings – L115 and L48 – deliver 115,000 sq ft and 48,000 sq ft of Grade A industrial/logistics accommodation at Liberty Park, Lichfield.
Fronting the A38, L115 and L48 comprise two high-specification, detached, self-contained and secure units, each with 10m internal height, 50KNm2 floor loading and more than 230 combined car parking and lorry spaces. The two units have achieved an EPC ‘A’ rating and a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’.
Derbyshire-based G F Tomlinson was lead contractor for the development.
Based on a 30-acre development site just a few minutes’ walk from Lichfield Trent Valley train station, Liberty Park, Lichfield has planning consent for approximately 441,000 sq ft, including build-to-suit units from 40,000 sq ft to 350,000 sq ft.
Major improvements have been made to site access and infrastructure, including new car parking facilities and the replacement of a road bridge over the West Coast Main Line.
Andrew Blevins, Managing Director of Liberty Property Trust’s UK operation, said: “Liberty Park, Lichfield is an exciting development that has been built in response to demand in an undersupplied market. We fully expect both new units to be attractive to high-calibre occupiers keen to secure market leading industrial/logistics facilities adjacent to the A38 and close to the M6 Toll.”
Tony Nash, Director, Stoford Developments, said: “We are delighted to have completed work on this major employment project, which provides quality industrial and logistics accommodation in a strategically important location.”
Alun Rogers, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Acting Chairman, said: “Showpiece projects such as Liberty Park illustrate the benefits of working in partnership with the private sector and local authorities. We are delighted to see that our ambitions to create more and better jobs benefitting local communities are bearing fruit. The success of this project is a real boost to our package of strategic industrial and commercial developments that are raising our profile nationally and internationally and driving economic growth across our area. It sends a clear and positive message that our region is very much open for business.”
Councillor Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “Liberty Park presents the county with another prime investment site with superb connectivity. The county council, working on behalf of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, created access to the site with the new road bridge over the West Coast Mainline. This was a complicated engineering project which will pave the way for new jobs in the region. The project has been further demonstration of how public and private sectors have worked together to deliver results. It is also another example of the county council and partners laying the foundations for growth.”
Councillor Iain Eadie, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Economic Growth & Tourism, said: “We know that our residents will be pleased that the construction work is complete and we look forward to welcoming new businesses to our city and district. Lichfield is in the heart of the country, close to major road networks, with fast train links to the capital and other regional centres. With the historic nature and appeal of our cathedral city, we believe Lichfield district offers an unrivalled base for any business.”
Liberty Park, Lichfield benefits from excellent access by road and unrivalled public transport access. The development is situated approximately 14 miles north of Birmingham, with access to the A38 and the M6 Toll (Junctions T4 and T5). The site lies adjacent to Lichfield Trent Valley train station, with mainline links to London and cross-country links on the Midland’s rail network.
Existing local occupiers include DHL, Newell Rubbermaid, Florette, Tesco and Palletways.
Liberty Park, Lichfield is the first business development project to be backed by the Government’s Growth Deal through a £4million funding package. The development has been delivered with the support of Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The scheme is being jointly marketed by CBRE and Avison Young.