First units near completion at £100m development

Chorley-based FI Real Estate Management has announced that the first units at its £100m Botany Bay Business Park development are near completion.

FIREM is currently constructing 33 units, totalling 405,000 sq ft of industrial estate across the park and the first tenants are expected to be announced imminently and on site by early 2024. 

The first units, consisting of 167,000 sq ft of space, will soon be ready. Blocks A & B will be retail hubs with household names ready to sign up in the new year, expected to open before the end of 2024.  

FIREM says that 40 per cent of the unites are already under offer. and three units in block D are expected to complete legals by the end of the first quarter of 2024. 

Blocks C & D will feature units ranging from 2,783 sq ft to 4,412 sq ft available for light industrial, warehousing, manufacturing and trade counter uses. The site’s largest unit, block E, suitable for industrial use and offers 158,360 sq ft and is estimated to be completed before the end of Q1 2024.   

Furthermore, a pre-let of Blocks F & G to a Chorley based business has completed, and practical completion of the 110,000 sq ft manufacturing facility is targeted for November 2024, securing over 100 jobs in the area.  

This latest milestone for Botany Bay Business Park comes as FIREM recently secured planning approval for phase two of the site – 309,060 sq ft of industrial space on the hill adjacent to the historic mill building.  

Tim Knowles, founder and managing director of FIREM, said: “Botany Bay Business Park has attracted huge levels of interest since work began on site, and we’re delighted to be moving into final stage agreements with a number of potential occupiers as the first units within the development reach completion.

“The opportunities these businesses will bring to the area are fantastic, creating jobs and providing amenities. It’s even better that we’re seeing increased interest from Chorley-based companies who are looking to expand and take their business to the next level.”