Steel on site at next phase of Frontier Park

Work is underway on the next phase of Frontier Park near Blackburn, just weeks after planning permission was granted.

Developer Monte (Blackburn), the property and development company for the Issa family, has spared no time in getting onto the site off the M65.

Despite the challenging times, steel work is now being erected for a further 300,000 sq ft of speculative build for the manufacturing and logistics market.

Units of between 40,000 sq ft and 150,000 sq ft will be ready for occupation later this year.

As part of the next phase, FP Prospect will offer the chance for smaller business to locate onto Frontier providing 14,000 sq ft to let in units of 3,000 and 5,000 sq ft.

This leaves one final plot on a ‘Design and Build’ basis, with the potential to accommodate a building of up to 300,000 sq ft.

Reservations for space are already being discussed with occupiers.

After a year of marketing, the first phase of the scheme is now fully let and firmly established as one of the region’s premier business and logistics parks.

The first phase brought forward in excess of 400,000 sq ft of warehouse and manufacturing units from 20,000 sq ft upwards.

Lettings have taken place to MDA, part of the European logistics giant Stacci Group, which has taken 185,000 sq ft.

Royal Sanders, the highly-diversified global business specialising in personal care products, has taken 80,000 sq ft.

And Tek-Dry Systems, a specialist supplier of high-quality thermal process and ancillary equipment, took a pre let of 60,000 sq ft prior to completion.

This complements Euro Garages £6million roadside fuel and shop facility with leading convenience and retail brands BP, Spar, Subway, Greggs, Starbucks and KFC.

In the summer a 150-bedroom Hampton by Hilton Hotel will open next to the retail facility.

Caroline James, director at Trevor Dawson, said: “The completion of the first phase clearly demonstrates the Issa family’s commitment to the local area and economic growth in the North West. It has been an exciting 12 months which will continue with the next phase of development”.

The main contractor for the Frontier project is Nelson-based Barnfield Construction. Preston-based PWA Planning successfully advised Monte Blackburn on the latest ambitious development at the 90-acre business park.

Gemma Newall, senior planner at PWA Planning, based in the Riversway area of the city, said: “These latest commercial developments will create further jobs and attract additional investment into the area and we’re proud to have supported them.”

With around one million sq ft of new warehouse and industrial space being created, Frontier Park represents the area’s biggest employment and commercial development for decades. It is expected to have created up to 2,000 jobs by the time it is completed.