Business park expansion could support 350 jobs following planning go-ahead | TheBusinessDesk.com

Planning permission has been granted for 10 new industrial/trade units at Lancaster Business Park, which could support up to 350 new jobs.

Acting on behalf of the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, Derwent Estates secured the green light for the units, totaling 97,100 sq ft, at the Caton Road location.

These will be the first industrial units on the park, split over three plots.

The units will comprise:

• Plot 1 – 13,000 sq ft self-contained warehouse building
• Plot 2 – two warehouses with ancillary office accommodation of 30,000 sq ft each
• Plot 3 – seven industrial and trade units ranging in size from 1,700 sq ft up to 7,000 sq ft, totaling 24,100 sq ft

Additionally, the site has been granted planning on a fourth plot of 1,800 sq ft drive-thru and two drive-to retail units of 1,200 sq ft each.

A further 52 car parking spaces – including electric vehicle charging units – will be created at the entrance to the business park next to the existing Brewers Fayre restaurant.

Andy McCormack, Senior Asset Manager at Derwent Estates, said: “This latest phase of our continued expansion and enhancement of the business park will see further significant investment into the scheme.

“Now that the scheme has planning consent, we are moving forward at pace to secure new interest and negotiate terms on existing enquiries. We expect to see high levels of interest for this site, which is strategically located off junction 34 of the M6 motorway and provides excellent connectivity to the North and South of Lancaster, as well as the city centre.”

He added: “I can also confirm that we are currently in discussions with national F&B operators for the drive-thru and retail units, which will provide much needed additional amenities for occupants of the business park, significantly enhancing its current offering.

“We have worked very closely with Lancaster City Council to ensure the vision for this sustainable scheme can be achieved. We estimate that the development will bring up to 350 additional jobs to the area.”

Lancaster Business Park currently extends to 61,500 sq ft of high specification office accommodation and vacant land holdings.

The development of the vacant plots will bring the remaining site ownership into commercial use.

Avison Young and Eckersley are the retained agents for the scheme.