English Partnerships (EP) has been in negotiations with major US and Far East developers and funds in a bid to spur the redevelopment of one of the UKs largest brownfield sites.
The scheme, known as Omega, will comprise up to 650,000 sq m (7m sq ft) of mixed-use development – mainly offices and industrial – on the former Burtonwood airfield site in Warrington.
Nick Whipp, partner at GVA Grimley, which is advising EP, would not confirm which companies had been involved in the negotiations, but developers such as Tishman Speyer, Howard Ronson Organisation, Kajima, Mitsubishi Real Estate and Lend Lease are likely to be in the running.
Whipp claimed: “Theres interest from the US and the Far East. Ive been to New York and Boston and talked to developers who have shown an interest. This is a world-class scheme and we want to get it right.”
EP will launch an international competition to find a development partner for the project, and is inviting expressions of interest on the 97ha (240 acres) site by 13 November. Detailed proposals will be submitted by the end of January 2001.
EGi News 06/10/00
