Member Article

Omega secures approval for next phase of RBS and Miller Developments project

Omega Warrington Ltd (“OWL”), a joint venture between RBS Real Estate Asset Management (“RBS”) and Miller Developments, has been granted outline planning consent by Warrington Borough Council for 2.1million sqft of logistics (B8) and manufacturing (B2) space at ‘Zone 7’ of Omega, its 575-acre mixed-use regeneration project in Warrington.

‘Zone 7’, a 150-acre site situated on Omega South, will provide build-to-suit development opportunities for units from 75,000 sq ft up to a single unit of over 1 million sq ft. The outline approval also includes detailed plans for a new access road to Junction 8 of the M62 and a 35 acres ‘Green Heart’ for wildlife preservation.

The delivery of ‘Zone 7’ is set within the context of a wider Omega Masterplan which seeks to deliver a high quality, mixed-use development of commercial uses.

In total the whole masterplanned scheme is expected to create around 24,000 new jobs for a range of skills in the North West, as well as 1,100 new homes, a school, retail and restaurants/bars/hotel. It is expected further outline planning applications will come forward later in 2014 for residential and mixed-use developments.

Andrew Sutherland, joint MD for Miller Developments: said: “We and our partners, the Homes and Communities Agency and Warrington Borough Council, have been working closely on the evolution of the Masterplan for a considerable period of time.

“This represents the first of what we hope will be a series of planning consents that the Council will grant. We have been speaking to a number of potential occupiers over the last 12 months and the delivery of this consent, combined with the almost 1.75 million sq ft of development that is already on site, will provide them with further confidence in our ability to meet their property requirements.”

Helen Gordon, Global Head of RBS Real Estate Asset Management, said: “Securing outline planning consent for ‘Zone 7’ in Omega South is another significant step forward for this ambitious 25-year brownfield development. It demonstrates our expertise in, and commitment to, bringing forward large scale regeneration schemes that transform redundant sites into areas capable of housing businesses, both large and small, and stimulating employment.”

Deborah McLaughlin, the HCA’s Executive Director for the North West, said: “It’s hard to believe that until recently the Omega site was vacant for such a long time. Over the last few years, we’ve set about transforming the site into a major distribution centre for the north west and this latest planning success means we’ll be able to provide new facilities for growing businesses while improving transport links and protecting local wildlife.”

Construction is well advanced at Omega South on a 583,000 sq ft unit for ASDA after planning was secured in November 2013. The brownfield development project has secured approximately £200million of private sector investment following the success of Omega North and the first phase of activity in Omega South.

Brakes, Hermes, Travis Perkins and ASDA have all committed to Omega with over 1.6m sq ft of logistics premises either open or under construction.

Dan Burn, Director of Industrial & Logistics at JLL in Manchester, who are marketing the scheme jointly with GVA said “Over the last two years, Omega has become the leading logistics destination in the North West.

“We are very confident that with limited existing Grade A stock available in the market, the site’s unrivalled location and OWL’s proven track record in delivering built solutions, the success that we have experienced to date will be continued. Omega will no doubt remain the destination of choice for logistics operators and, in the future, manufacturers seeking space in the region.”

OWL is a joint venture between Miller Developments and KUC Properties Ltd (part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Real Estate Asset Management), in partnership with landowner the Homes and Communities Agency and supported by Warrington Borough Council and the Cheshire and Warrington LEP.

Archial was the architect for the planning application and GL Hearn was strategic communications/consultation advisor. GVA and JLL are the letting agents for logistics and manufacturing opportunities in Zone 7.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .