Fourteen new industrial and business units could be built in Southport to provide a big boost to new and existing businesses looking for space.
Morgan Hope Industries Ltd has submitted a planning application to Sefton Council to build the development following the demolition of the existing buildings on land to the rear of Carpa House, at Blowick Business Park, on Crowland Street in High Park in Southport.
The firm says the 840 sq. m scheme is urgently needed, as “Sefton has the smallest amount of designated employment land of any Liverpool City Region authority, despite having the third largest population”.
In the application, Morgan Hope Industries Ltd said: “The application site measures 2,210 sqm is situated to the rear of, and within the curtilage of ‘Carpa House’. This is an existing industrial / business premises fronting Crowland Street and is sub-divided into four self-contained units, the largest of which is currently occupied by a bespoke lighting manufacturer.
“The application site comprises two single-storey former workshop buildings along the south-east boundary and a tarmac paved hardstanding area. The workshop units were associated with Carpa House and the hardstanding is used for general vehicle parking, rear access and circulation.
“The site is located within a designated employment / industrial area and within the site’s immediate vicinity are a number of industrial and manufacturing units. There are no residential premises adjacent to the site.
“The rationale for the development is to bring this land into more productive economic use by providing modern fit for purpose self-contained units. These can accommodate both new ‘start-ups’ and established businesses, who require space to undertake light and general industrial uses within an established employment area.
“Fourteen units, each of 60 sq. m. is considered to be an ideal mix given the space available and the need to provide safe access and circulation.
“The units have been configured to provide the flexibility to be combined into larger units to meet end users’ requirements, for example, two units could be combined to provide 120 sq. m. but easily reverted back to 60 sq. m. should circumstances change.
“From their experience of owning and managing Carpa House, the applicant has identified a need for these kinds of flexible units, which can appeal to a broad range of end users.
“End users could include brand new start-up businesses, or established businesses that require more suitable modern premises.
“There are many ‘backland’ industrial and commercial premises in some of Southport’s older residential areas. These sometimes cause amenity and access issues and some of those occupants have outgrown such constrained premises and are looking to relocate, but do not require the larger units in Crowland Street. Therefore this development would provide a very sustainable alternative location for their relocation.
“The units would be used by small business operations and are not anticipated to generate excessive traffic.
“This site is within a highly sustainable location for this kind of development as the area is primarily industrial and there are no neighbour amenity issues. There is a strong demand and need for this kind of modest-scale development, which will help to create employment and provide much-needed flexible and modern business and light industrial space.
“Sefton Council’s Local Plan seeks to ensure that the borough’s industrial estates are retained and improved to provide a continuing supply of employment sites.
“This is particularly important given that Sefton has the smallest amount of designated employment land of any Liverpool City Region authority, despite having the third largest population.
“Whilst many small and poor quality industrial sites have been, and will continue to be, redeveloped for housing, the key employment areas, such as this site, are identified as ‘Existing Employment Areas’ under policy ED3 and reserved for employment generating uses.
“This development therefore provides a ‘win–win’ situation, because it will provide new employment space, whilst also helping to relocate industrial activity away from inappropriate backland sites and help to free up those sites for more appropriate uses.
“Sefton’s planners are constantly having to resist applications for the change of use of designated employment land into alternative uses, such as housing and retail, therefore a willing developer such as this applicant, who wants to actively promote new employment development, should be actively supported through the planning process.”
Operational hours would be 6am to 10pm.
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