Peel International Trade Centre | West Float

[Paul D]

Multimillion pound Wirral ITC deal signed in China.

A MULTIMILLION pound deal to locate the UK’s first international trade centre in Merseyside was signed in Beijing.

The signing ceremony was the culmination of a 10 day trip by Wirral Council’s political leaders to support Peel Holdings who are behind the venture planned for the Birkenhead dockland.

Labour council leader Phil Davies led the council’s delegation including Tory leader Jeff Green and Lib Dem Tom Harney to present a show of political unity to the Chinese investors.

Cllr Davies said the signing “is a milestone in the development of the International Trade Centre”.

Speaking from China yesterday he said: “This afternoon I spoke to over 100 Chinese businesses who are already demonstrating real commitment to locating in Wirral. This demonstrates our ambitions for proactively pursuing Chinese investment and will yield direct benefits for our local economy and the people of Wirral.”

The £200m ITC project will be a 50-50 equity partnership between Peel Holdings and the Sam Wa Minerals, and is thought to be the biggest Chinese investment in a scheme of this type in the UK.

The signing of the joint venture agreement should see building work begin in April 2013.

The ITC is a four-phased development totalling in excess of 2.5 million square feet with plans to enable up to 1,000 separate companies from China, India, South Korea and other emerging economies, to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods into the UK.

As the signing took place Peel revealed they now have Letters of Intent from Chinese businesses accounting for 36% of the total floor space of the ITC, even before the project has been marketed widely in China.

A press conference was held yesterday morning attended by Chinese press agencies and TV stations including CCTV at the Beijing State Guest House – owned by the Government – and attended by David Percival, chief executive officer of the British Consulate General in China and Lord Green, UK minister of state for trade and investment.

Stella Shiu, described as “a high-ranking member of the Chinese government” as well as being chairman of Sam Wa Minerals, said: “The timing of this project is excellent as Chinese businesses are being encouraged to move out and invest overseas. Today’s success will make our vision a reality.”

[buggedboy]

36% full already. That is fantastic news. A real shot in the arm for the local economy.

[Paul D]

Chinese occupiers 'interested in taking space at Peel ITC'

Peel Group and Wirral Council have signed a joint venture agreement with Chinese investor Sam Wa Minerals to develop the International Trade Centre in Birkenhead.

The £175m four-phased development totalling in excess of 2.5m sq ft is aimed at enabling up to 1,000 companies from China, India, South Korea and other emerging economies to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods into the UK. Each building will comprise individual trade showroom units, storage and assembly facilities, serviced offices, a flexible exhibition space and ancillary services.

Wirral council said letters of intent to take space at the ITC have been obtained from Chinese businesses accounting for 36% of the 668,000 sq ft first phase, before the project has been marketed widely in China.

Cllr Phil Davies, leader of the council, said after the signing in Beijing: "This afternoon I spoke to over 100 Chinese businesses who are already demonstrating real commitment to locating in Wirral. Today demonstrates our ambitions for proactively pursuing Chinese investment and will yield direct benefits for our local economy and the people of Wirral."

Also present at the signing were Cllr Jeff Green, leader of the Conservative Group, and Cllr Tom Harney, leader of the Liberal Democrats as well as Lindsay Ashworth, development director of Peel and Stella Shiu, chairman of Sam Wa Minerals.

Shiu said: "Today is a big move forward as we have been able to demonstrate national and local Chinese government support as well as support from businesses and academics. The timing of this project is excellent as Chinese businesses are being encouraged to move out and invest overseas. Today's success will make our vision a reality."

Ashworth added: "As far as the project is concerned the significance of today was not about signing the JV agreement with Sam Wa. We have developed a strong relationship over the last four years and this is merely the paperwork to support it. The real objective of the mission is about securing tenants and that was what today was all about. Today we have made a significant leap forward in delivering this project."

Also present at the signing was David Percival, chief executive of the British Consulate General in China and Lord Green, UK minister of state for trade and investment.

Prior to the signing in Beijing a press conference was attended by Chinese press agencies and TV stations. Wirral Council said the signing of the joint venture agreement was held publicly at the Beijing State Guest House to demonstrate the national Chinese Government's endorsement of the project.

During the 10-day trip to China the Wirral Council delegation has held a series of meetings in Taicang and a number of initiatives will now be taken forward including a significant trade mission from Taicang to Wirral led by the Deputy Mayor consisting of Taicang businesses who wish to invest in Wirral Waters.

[Paul D]

Originally Posted by buggedboy

36% full already. That is fantastic news. A real shot in the arm for the local economy.

And that's even before the project has been marketed widely in China, many vital friendships seem to be forming too.

[MR KITE]

Wirral turns its sights on Indian investors for ITC

WIRRAL is aiming to become a key location for investment from Indian businesses – after already attracting major Chinese funding.

Senior council officers recently returned from a week of meetings with companies on the sub continent – accompanied by representatives from Peel who are behind the £200m International Trade Centre (ITC) in Birkenhead, part of Wirral Waters.

Wirral’s director of regeneration Kevin Adderley said much of the focus so far had been on China, which is providing significant investment into the ITC.

But he said: “The ITC is, as its name says, a centre for international trade, and although our focus has been on China there are other emerging markets which are major suppliers to the UK, and one of them is India.

“There is a lot of commitment from Chinese companies to come to the ITC, but it’s a big development and a big space and there will be businesses from across the globe.”

He said visiting India was an initial step and the aim is to develop relationships within the other so-called “BRIC” (Brazil, Russia, India and China) emerging economies.

During the five-day trip, which was split between Delhi and Mumbai, the group met with private businesses as well as local chambers of commerce. Mr Adderley said: “How does an SME in Delhi get into the UK market? They can buy into a company here, which is what has happened in the past, but now they have the ITC to sell their goods into Europe directly.

“It was a very successful week, and the first time either Peel or ourselves had visited India to develop these kinds of business relationships. It is important to be making those initial contacts.”

Remediation work is well underway at the ITC site and it is hoped building could start next spring.

But Mr Adderley also used the visit to India to “sell Wirral as a location for investment” and said: “With the success of Tata at Jaguar LandRover and (Essar who bought) the Stanlow refinery, many Indian businesses are looking at ways of getting into Europe and the UK. We want to be at the forefront of that.”

Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...#ixzz21uy0GPIl

[HollyBlack]

Originally Posted by MR KITE

.... He said visiting India was an initial step and the aim is to develop relationships within the other so-called “BRIC” (Brazil, Russia, India and China) emerging economies. ...

I hope they talk with Brazil too. I have been impressed with the quality (for the price) of steel products (e.g. knives) from Brazil in recent years. Unlike the low quality stuff from Asia. Or the counterfeit stuff pretending to be European and British.

[Dane_e]

The Peel ITC website has now been updated www.peelitc.co.uk and there are a number of new images of the development:







These current renders suggest it will be more appealing to the eye!

[Oges efc]

Went past the site the other week , looks like its full steam ahead on this , site clearance is well underway and construction is meant to commence early next year !

[kat2]

Sunday Update trade port development prep
image hosted on flickr

[kat2]

image hosted on flickr

[kat2]

image hosted on flickr

[kat2]

image hosted on flickr

[kat2]

image hosted on flickr

[kat2]

image hosted on flickr

[kat2]

image hosted on flickr

[Dane_e]

Thanks for posting Kat. I'm very excited about this scheme- I would say it is one of the most prominent developments in Birkenheads history.

[yoshef]

Does anyone know if the quayside is going to open to the general public? Looks like it in this image...

[stepr]

I actually thought it would be closed off to the public, but if it's not, then that will be something new, because certainly most of the public have never set foot on that land unless you were working there, or were a rebellious child. I have certainly never set foot on that land. That's an interesting concept, and one I'd never even mulled over to be honest.

[Paul D]

Interest growing in Wirral’s planned International Trade Centre

THOUSANDS of Chinese companies have said they are interested in moving into a planned international trade centre in Merseyside, its developer said today.

Work to prepare the Birkenhead docklands site of the £175m scheme is drawing to a close and finalised plans are due to be submitted to Wirral council next month.

Lindsey Ashworth, director of developer Peel, said he hoped to begin formally signing up tenants for the centre this summer.

Once completed, the ITC is intended to provide a platform for companies from the Far East and South America to exhibit and import their goods into the European market, creating thousands of new jobs in Wirral. Mr Ashworth said: “Thousands of companies are showing an interest. At the moment, we are still getting declarations of interest in.

“The issue is not whether we can sign up tenants, it is getting people with quality products. I am taking 10-year leases and saying to companies they need to be patient and grow their businesses here.

“The last thing we want is a building full of companies selling products which are not up to standard.”

Mr Ashworth said Peel will examine all companies which have signed “declarations of interest” in moving into the ITC and then select a range to best guarantee its long-term success.

He added: “We have got to be very careful to get the proper mix of tenants.

“We are getting all the declarations in, then we will sign them up. I expect we will start to sign them up in the summer.”

The ITC was given planning permission by the council in 2011 and work to decontaminate the site, off Beaufort Road, in Birkenhead, started last year.

It is expected the centre, which is being developed by Peel and the Sam Wa Group, will be built in four stages.

The first of the ITC’s four buildings, which will provide a base for up to 300 overseas businesses, is scheduled to open next year.

Once completed, it is expected to become “the greatest concentration of foreign-owned businesses in the UK”, with more than 1,000 companies using it to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods across the European market.

According to Mr Ashworth, the scheme has been revised to make use of Wirral’s vintage trams.

He said Peel was preparing “CGIs showing trams going in front of the site” and a station for them to use.

He also said Peel was focused on attracting more companies from other “emerging economies” such as India, not just China.

Read more: Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz2JGYGseI2

[Dane_e]

Originally Posted by Paul D

Interest growing in Wirral’s planned International Trade Centre

THOUSANDS of Chinese companies have said they are interested in moving into a planned international trade centre in Merseyside, its developer said today.

Work to prepare the Birkenhead docklands site of the £175m scheme is drawing to a close and finalised plans are due to be submitted to Wirral council next month.

Lindsey Ashworth, director of developer Peel, said he hoped to begin formally signing up tenants for the centre this summer.

Once completed, the ITC is intended to provide a platform for companies from the Far East and South America to exhibit and import their goods into the European market, creating thousands of new jobs in Wirral. Mr Ashworth said: “Thousands of companies are showing an interest. At the moment, we are still getting declarations of interest in.

“The issue is not whether we can sign up tenants, it is getting people with quality products. I am taking 10-year leases and saying to companies they need to be patient and grow their businesses here.

“The last thing we want is a building full of companies selling products which are not up to standard.”

Mr Ashworth said Peel will examine all companies which have signed “declarations of interest” in moving into the ITC and then select a range to best guarantee its long-term success.

He added: “We have got to be very careful to get the proper mix of tenants.

“We are getting all the declarations in, then we will sign them up. I expect we will start to sign them up in the summer.”

The ITC was given planning permission by the council in 2011 and work to decontaminate the site, off Beaufort Road, in Birkenhead, started last year.

It is expected the centre, which is being developed by Peel and the Sam Wa Group, will be built in four stages.

The first of the ITC’s four buildings, which will provide a base for up to 300 overseas businesses, is scheduled to open next year.

Once completed, it is expected to become “the greatest concentration of foreign-owned businesses in the UK”, with more than 1,000 companies using it to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods across the European market.

According to Mr Ashworth, the scheme has been revised to make use of Wirral’s vintage trams.

He said Peel was preparing “CGIs showing trams going in front of the site” and a station for them to use.

He also said Peel was focused on attracting more companies from other “emerging economies” such as India, not just China.

Read more: Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz2JGYGseI2

Good stuff, however a CGI already exists which shows vintage trams in front of the Trade Centre.

Surely schemes like this would make the prospect of bringing HS2 into the Liverpool region viable also? Perhaps Whitehall is ignorant to developments such as the trade centre and port expansion.