Two major investment opportunities on the outskirts of Liverpool are to be given fresh impetus by commissioned studies.
The studies have been commissioned by Speke Garston Development Company on behalf of Liverpool council.
They have been funded at a combined cost of around £250,000 by the North West Development Agency (NWDA), Liverpool council and the European Objective One programme.
One study focuses on the 175-acre (71ha) Aintree Industrial Estate on Long Lane, which employs around 5,000 people but has been largely neglected since the 1950s.
It will develop a framework for upgrading the estate to attract investment and employment.
It is not yet known how much land will be available for development or what uses will be reserved for the land.
The plan will address issues such as upgrading the infrastructure and public areas, improving access to the A580 and developing an identity for the estate.
Lead consultants on the study are transport experts JMP, supported by Cass Associates (landscape architects), Edmund Kirby (property advice) and BWS (cost consultants).
The second study will focus on the 23-acre (9ha) former GEC factory site on the A580 East Lancashire Road, which has potential for up to 400,000 sq ft (37,160 sq m) of offices and light industrial accommodation.
The aim is to create a range of serviced development plots that will attract businesses to the area.
Infrastructure work, the development of a new road layout, a new junction off the A580 and better linkages with the existing Gillmoss Industrial Estate are also being considered.
The lead consultants for the study are BDP supported by JMP (transport) and Insignia Richard Ellis.
Ian Hassall, development director of Speke Garston Development Company, commented: “Both these sites have the potential to attract new development and become very important new sources of employment opportunities for the Strategic Investment Area and for the city as a whole.”
The two sites fall within the Approach 580 Strategic Investment Area (SIA) on the edge of Liverpool.
SIAs are parts of Merseyside identified as having the greatest potential for economic growth with the help of European Objective One funding.
Objective One status was granted to Merseyside for a second time in 2000 because it has less than 75% of the European average Gross Domestic Product.
EGi News 20/08/02
