Lancashire Central development at Cuerden seeing ‘strong interest’

Lancashire Central’s new signs with county council leader Phillippa Williamson and county councillor Aidy Riggott with James Scott from Maple Grove developments

The search is continuing for businesses to be part of the Lancashire Central development.

Lancashire County Council says it has received ‘strong interest’ from local, regional and national companies to be located at the Cuerden site.

Previously due to be the site of an IKEA store and large retail park, which collapsed in 2018, a new scheme – branded as Lancashire Central was given outline planning approval in December last year.

Almost half-a-mile wide the land between the M6 and the A49 and A582 would be a mix of industrial, offices, retail and leisure development.

New signs have gone up around the Cuerden site boasting of the potential commercial opportunity for businesses to be part of the scheme.

County Council leader county councillor Phillippa Williamson said: “It is really good that having secured planning permission we can start to promote the opportunity that this site will create for business, employment and skills.

“It is also an example of the county council’s commitment to creating growth, alongside our support to deliver development opportunities of regional and national significance, while also delivering a significant range of local benefits including jobs for Lancashire residents.

“Whilst activity hasn’t yet started on site, we can assure you that lots of work is taking place behind the scenes, preparing for development to start and the marketing of Lancashire Central to businesses, occupiers is a key part of this.”

The 1.7million square foot site has the potential to create 5,600 jobs once operating – claim the county council.

An overview of the Lancashire Central development

A section of the development would also be 116 new homes.

Development director at Maple Grove who are marketing the site, James Scott, said: “The residential site is currently being marketed for sale and although it’s early days, there has already been strong initial interest from many of the major housebuilders.”

Asked about progress on the site and potential takers for the units a spokesperson for Lancashire County Council told Blog Preston: “We’re working hard behind the scenes with the developer, Maple Grove Developments Ltd, to bring the site forward as quickly as possible and attract businesses to be based here.

“These signs are one of the more visible parts of this approach to market the site, and a full marketing launch will take place once we have a fixed delivery programme.

“Following the recent planning consent for the scheme, we are now working through the planning conditions, which will inform a programme of works to deliver the required infrastructure.

“While we’re not able to give details at this stage about future occupiers we can confirm that interest in the site remains strong.”

A raft of road changes around the Cuerden site covering the A582, A49, M6 and M65 were all approved as part of the planning permission being granted.

But there’s still lingering concerns over the ownership of the land on the site – as 29 per cent of the site is still owned by developers Brookhouse Group.

Asked about the continuing legal dispute about the access and other areas of the site a spokesperson for the county council told Blog Preston: “We’re not able to go into any detail about discussions with neighbouring landowners at this stage.”

The approved plans only cover the 65-hectare plots of land owned by the county council.

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