UK: 4 million sqft logistics development Logistics North

A 4 million square feet logistics development in the North West of England has taken a further step forward.

Leading UK regeneration specialist Harworth Estate has confirmed the outline planning approval already granted by the local authority (Bolton Council) for Logistics North, which will be the largest distribution, logistics and employment site in Greater Manchester.

Logistics North is a major employment development proposal located at the former Cutacre opencast coal mine site between Over Hulton in Bolton, Greenheys and Little Hulton in Salford, and Atherton in Wigan, (Greater Manchester).

The scheme will develop approximately 100 hectares (247 acres) of land for warehouses, factories, offices and other supporting uses. Bolton Council’s reference number, should anyone want to look it up on the local authority’s website, is 90539/13.

The Cutacre Country Park will surround the development and provide a 226-hectare landscape (558 acres) for public access, recreation, nature conservation and agricultural uses. Wildlife areas will be combined with panoramic views across the region to create a unique character for the park.  

Planners say the Cutacre site provides the ideal location for the Logistics North development, given its direct access to the M61 and regional motorway network, allowing heavy goods vehicles to arrive at and depart from the site without use of local roads.

The post-mining restored landscape offers a ‘blank canvas’ for the construction of large floorplate warehouse/factory buildings. The redevelopment of a former tip and mine site allows other sites of greater sensitivity or landscape value to remain undeveloped.

The site is accessible to the communities and workforce of Bolton, Salford and Wigan, including areas suffering a high level of deprivation and unemployment. Jobs created at Cutacre will be accessible to local people.

The site has only a very small number of immediate residential neighbours, with the communities to the west to be screened by the post-restoration landscape and planting.

The Cutacre site and the Logistics North development is owned and proposed by Harworth Estates.

Harworth has already agreed to sell the first site to Aldi, the supermarket group, for its new 450,000 sq ft regional distribution hub.

Infrastructure works are expected to commence in spring 2014. Agents are Jones Lang LaSalle and DTZ, which also acted as planning consultant.