John Whittaker’s Peel Group will tomorrow submit plans for a 2.5m sq ft International Trade Centre on the Wirral.
Peel said that the development would be unique in the UK and would bring substantial international investment to an area in need of major regeneration.
Director Lindsey Ashworth said: “This is a fantastic and exciting project where everybody wins. All local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high quality products manufactured overseas, and local people will have the opportunity to apply for new jobs that will be created. Peel will establish stronger business relationships with China and other emerging economies, which we believe will be the start of additional overseas joint ventures that move other projects forward and kick-start much needed growth in the North West region”.
Leader of Wirral council Steve Foulkes added: “While the International Trade Centre application will be independently decided by the council’s planning committee, it is fantastic to see the Wirral Waters vision, as launched by Peel in 2006, becoming a reality.”
The Trade Centre application will comprise four separate multi-level buildings totalling around 2.5m sq ft. The four buildings are likely to be phased over the next 10 years and it is envisaged that first phase building construction will commence some time next year.
The centre will enable more than 1,000 companies from countries such as China, India, South Korea and other emerging economies, to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods into the UK, Irish and European markets. The facility will be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and the largest and most sustainable wholesale Trade Centre in Europe.
As an International Trade Centre the development will be restricted to trade use only.
samantha.mcclary@estatesgazette.com
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