A NUMBER of major firms are set to sign up for sites on Warrington’s flagship development site, Omega.
This was revealed as regional dignitaries, stakeholders and private sector partners gathered at Omega to celebrate the progress of work on premises for the first occupier on the £1 billion site.
The final steel sheets were laid down to complete the roof of a new 200,000 sq ft state-of-the-art logistics centre for grocery and fresh food suppliers Brakes.
The depot will operational by the end of the year, bringing hundreds of jobs to the area.
According to Andrew Sutherland, joint managing director of Miller Developments – a partner in Omega Warrington Ltd – it is just the start of things to come.
He said: “We are very happy to be celebrating the fact that the Omega project is now firmly underway. We are all committed to building on this first success to enable the wider project to become a strong commercial reality, and a magnet for investment in the North West.
“This first deal has been a crucial kick-start to the scheme as it includes a £7m infrastructure contract for an access road and associated services that is now opening up Omega North to make this far more attractive for further investment logistics occupiers.
“On that basis, we are very close to making a number of further significant occupier announcements which will mean millions of pounds of investment and over 2,000 new permanent jobs over the next couple of years.”
Nick Smart, Brakes’ supply chain director, said: “We are delighted to be the first business to ‘go-live’ on the site and bring a much needed boost to the area in a difficult economic climate. The decision to build this new site is part of Brakes’ long-term strategy to invest in its network to meet its growth projections and ensure that it is in position to meet growing demand in the North West.”
In addition to further deals on Omega North, it is expected that an announcement will also be made shortly in relation to the first occupier on a plot being brought forward on Omega South.
This plot would become a major north west logistics centre for a well-known occupier as part of a wider emerging mixed use masterplan for Omega South which will be presented for public consultation.
Pictured (left to right) Cllr Terry O’Neill, Leader of Warrington Borough Council; Andrew Sutherland, Joint MD of Miller Developments (Partner, Omega Warrington Ltd); and Deborah McLaughlin, North West Executive Director at the Homes and Communities Agency PLUS guests at the Omega North commencement of works celebration event.
