Proposals have been tabled for a logistics hub serving Liverpool, Manchester, major roads, and the two most significant railways in the North of England.
Tritax Big Box, a London-based real estate investment trust, has proposed a large logistics hub in North West England. The facility would be situated at Newton-le-Willows, a settlement equidistant from Manchester and Liverpool, the two largest conurbations in the region. It would be connected to the English motorway network and main rail routes, both north-south and east-west.
The preliminary phase of public consultation has begun on proposals for the hub, which the developers are calling Intermodal Logistics Park North. An informal non-statutory public consultation begins today (Monday 27 January). The outline plans include warehouse space of three-quarters of a million square metres (over eight million square feet). Tritax Big Box REIT say that the development could support up to 6,000 jobs and add around £175m per annum to the regional economy.
A significant shift from road to rail
Britain has a well-documented shortage of warehouse and logistics provision. The development of ILP (North) may go some way to addressing that. According to Tritax, the project would deliver a new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) – a modern distribution and warehouse park linked to both the strategic rail freight and road networks – that would better connect North West England to local, regional, national and global markets. The project is designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, meaning that the UK government will determine permission directly through a Development Consent Order, significantly shortening the process towards a green light on the project.
The site is strategically located between Liverpool and Manchester, and has direct access to the UK’s West Coast Main Line – a busy mixed traffic route connecting London and Scotland. It also sits adjacent to the Liverpool-Manchester “TransPennine” route, which connects several cities in the North of England on an east-west alignment (referred to as the Chat Moss railway on the Tritax map). Both routes are the subject of ongoing capacity upgrades. “These rail links provide access to the UK’s coastal ports, offering the potential to facilitate a significant shift from road to rail freight to move goods in and out of the North West,” says a statement from Tritax.
Shifting intermodal traffic from Manchester
At the same time as this new proposal, uncertainty hangs over an existing intermodal rail freight terminal, nearby in Manchester. The established facility at Trafford Park is being coveted by its next-door neighbour – Manchester United. The football club is proposing to rebuild its stadium, and redevelop the land around it – including the rail infrastructure. Intermodal Logistics Park North at Newton-le-Willows could address that potential loss.
Another nearby rail terminal, just south of Liverpool, was recently expanded to cope with extra traffic. Add to that the fact that Liverpool has a UK government-designated freeport, and there is an attractive set of economic circumstances for growth in the region. The proposed site is also near a now cancelled high speed passenger rail project (as reported by our sister service, RailTech.com). The economic incentives seem to stack up in favour of the development. However, the area is already heavily developed, and other such projects elsewhere have been met with vociferous opposition.
Vital hub for trade and logistics
The would-be developers have already programmed a series of public events, to introduce the proposals to local communities. “Our informal non-statutory consultation is a key milestone as we set out our early plans for ILP North in the Newton-le-Willows area,” said David Travis, Head of Manchester Office at Tritax Big Box Developments. “It has been a long-held ambition of [the local authorities at] St Helens Borough Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to bring such a development forward. The development of an SRFI at this location is an integral part of Liverpool City Region’s Freeport and is aligned with the UK Government’s target to increase rail freight by at least 75% by 2050.”
“This development could be a game-changer for the Newton-le-Willows area,” said Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region. “This is exactly the kind of investment we need to strengthen our position as a vital hub for trade and logistics. With its strategic location and the support of the Liverpool City Region Freeport, this project will help drive economic growth, improve connectivity, and open up new opportunities for local people. I look forward to working with Tritax Big Box Developments and all our partners to make this a reality.”