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£60m new look of former BAe site takes shape

8/ 5/2008

THE first phase of a £60m transformation of the former BAe Systems site at Greengate has been completed.

A refurbished 330,000-sq-ft warehouse is the first element to be delivered at the newly-named ‘Satellite Park’ since Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) acquired the land in 2004.

RLAM has consent to build 1m-sq-ft at the 50-acre site and the second phase, which has already received planning consent, includes manufacturing, warehouse and trade counter units together with seven standalone office units fronting Greengate.

Phase three – which would see an office campus, healthclub and fast food outlet built – is currently subject to a detailed planning application.

The development is expected to bring a jobs boost to the area, which will be more than welcome to those who have watched the sites gradual decline since its heyday as the BAe Systems plant during the Second World War.

The massive transformation scheme is being delivered in conjunction with development manager Industrial Securities.

Nigel Lax, of Industrial Securities, said: "Although the economic climate has changed significantly since this project was first conceived, we remain encouraged by the level of interest shown in the first phase of development that provides an economic solution in terms of total occupancy costs to manufacturers and logistics companies that are facing some challenging times.

"We are able to provide flexible terms that undercut the new shed competition in the North West and the location offers many benefits from the perspective of employment and connectivity to the local and national transport infrastructure."

The old BAe plant was the UK centre of production for the famous Lancaster bomber, employing 6,000 people. The plant managed to thrive post-war, with contracts to build parts for Harrier, Tornado and Jaguar aircraft. Commercial airline contracts then followed.

But the US terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, caused a huge downturn in production, and resulted in the plant’s closure in 2005. BAE System’s administrative arm, TTRO, is still at the site.