Peel International Trade Centre | West Float

[Dane_e]

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news...de-centre.html

Peel secures Chinese partner for trade centre
1 Jun 2011, 10:21


Peel Group will this week submit a planning application for an International Trade Centre to be built in West Float between Birkenhead and Wallasey in Wirral's docklands after agreeing a deal with an unnamed Chinese investor.

The Trade Centre will comprise four separate buildings totaling around 2.5m sq ft of floor space. The concept is pitched at "trade buyers who are looking for access to new goods and markets."

Peel said in statement on Wednesday: "The Peel Group has been visiting China regularly since 2007 and, as a result, a first Chinese partner for phase one of the Trade Centre has already been identified."

A spokesman for Peel said the identity of the Chinese investor would not be revealed.


Peel added: "Local businesses will in particular benefit from using the Peel ITC. The general public will not be able to use the facility. The Peel ITC will showcase an unlimited variety of high quality goods exclusively to the wholesale market that have been manufactured overseas. It will serve not just as a trading 'Gateway' into the domestic market, but to the whole of Europe. Goods will include but not be restricted to: electrical and technology, clothing and fashion, kitchenware, furniture, fixtures & fittings, DIY products, building materials, toys, garden products, sporting goods and household items. The Peel ITC will also include associated promotional and exhibition spaces, warehousing, storage and assembly facilities, and thanks to its strategic location will benefit from excellent transport connectivity via road, rail, water and air."

The ITC site is next to the original application area of the Wirral Waters development around East Float, which already has planning consent. Wirral Waters and the neighbouring Liverpool Waters were among the first Enterprise Zones granted by the Government in March this year.

Lindsey Ashworth, director of Peel, said: "This is a fantastic and exciting project where everybody wins. All local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high quality products manufactured overseas, and local people will have the opportunity to apply for new jobs that will be created. Peel will establish stronger business relationships with China and other emerging economies which we believe will be the start of additional overseas joint ventures that move other projects forward and kick-start much needed growth in the North West region."

Peel said that pending planning approval, work on the first ITC building could begin in 2012.

There are images on link of the centre.

I think there is only one other trade centre of its kind in eastern Europe!

[Paul D]

This is very positive news,now let's hope they can build on this.

[Dane_e]

According to Liverpool Daily Post it will go in for planning tomorrow.

PLANS for a a £100m trade centre which could create 3,000 of jobs in Wirral will be submitted tomorrow.

Peel wants to build an International Trade Centre (ITC) at West Float as part of its £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme.

The ITC would enable Chinese companies to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods into the UK, Irish and European markets.

The outline application has four separate buildings totalling around 2.5m sq ft of floor space – the equivalent of 23 large football pitches.

The four buildings are likely to be phased over the next 10 years and it is envisaged that first phase building construction will commence sometime next year.

Peel Director Lindsey Ashworth said: “Local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high quality products manufactured overseas, and local people will have the opportunity to apply for new jobs that will be created.

“Peel will establish stronger business relationships with China and other emerging economies which we believe will be the start of additional overseas joint ventures that move other projects forward and kick-start much needed growth in the North West region

Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...#ixzz1O1FGPSLm

[Dane_e]

Originally Posted by Paul D

This is very positive news,now let's hope they can build on this.

With out a doubt. Companies are likely to locate to the trade centre as a means of breaking into the European market. Over a time they could expand taking up other space through out the city region- whether it be distribution, office space etc.

[Howie_P]

Trade Centre scheme heralds a 'new dawn' for Wirral
10:25am Wednesday 1st June 2011

A multi-million pound scheme for an International Trade Centre to be built in Wirral docklands will be presented to council planners tomorrow.

The Peel Group will be submitting its outline planning application for the ITC scheme - which could create upwards of 3,000 jobs.

A statement from Peel says the development at West Float Docks, will "be unique in the UK and will bring substantial international investment to an area in need of major regeneration."

It believed the centre "has the potential to create over 3,000 new jobs many of which will be available to local people."

Peel director Lindsey Ashworth said: “This is a fantastic and exciting project where everybody wins.

"All local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high quality products manufactured overseas, and local people will have the opportunity to apply for new jobs that will be created.

"Peel will establish stronger business relationships with China and other emerging economies which we believe will be the start of additional overseas joint ventures that move other projects forward and kick-start much needed growth in the Northwest region”.

Council leader Cllr Steve Foulkes said: “While the International Trade Centre application will be independently decided by the council’s planning committee, it is fantastic to see the Wirral Waters vision, as launched by Peel in 2006 becoming a reality.

"The Trade Centre will be the cornerstone of what is a landscape-transforming development not just for Wirral but the Liverpool City Region as a whole.

"It is hopefully the first of many exciting ventures to be based at the site and has come to fruition because of the close international links that have been forged with China by both Peel and Wirral Council."

He concluded: "This project has the potential to deliver much-needed investment and jobs for local people and I am personally determined that this is just the beginning of a new dawn for Birkenhead and Wirral."

The Trade Centre application, which is submitted in outline, will comprise of four separate multi-level buildings totalling around 2.5m square feet of floor space.

The four buildings are likely to be phased over the next ten years and it is expected that first-phase building construction will start as early as next year.

The centre will enable more than 1,000 companies from countries such as China, India, South Korea and other emerging economies, to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute goods into the UK, Irish and European markets.

Peel says the facility will be the first of its kind in the UK and the largest and most sustainable wholesale Trade Centre in Europe.

The company says it "anticipates that planning permission will be granted" by autumn of this year.

In April, the Government announced Wirral Waters would be one of the region's first "Enterprise Zones" which are designed to encourage investment with tax breaks and superfast internet streams.

Source: Wirral Globe

[buggedboy]

Damn that Peel. What a load of land bankers. They never secure investment at all.....

[Awayo]

A planning application, Buggs. That is all so far. Apart from warm words, promises and mystery investors from the orient. But here's hoping.

The thing is of course is that Peel aren't total BS merchants in the spirit of Walton Group. They do sometimes develop things. The Trafford Centre for example and Media City, once absolute certain that they have occupiers, and only then with at very modest architectural quality. It's the constant mega-promises that are issued inbetween their fitful development activity that is leading to scepticism here.

[Howie_P]

International Trade Centre can kick start £11bn docklands regeneration
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post
Jun 2 2011



BUILDING a £200m International Trade Centre would kick-start the £11bn scheme to regenerate docklands in Liverpool and Wirral, the company behind the plan said last night.

Today, Peel will submit plans for an International Trade Centre (ITC) at West Float as part of its £4.5bn Wirral Waters scheme.

The centre, which has the potential to create more than 3,000 jobs, will be unique in the UK and would bring substantial international investment.

The ITC would enable Chinese companies, as well as those from other emerging markets such as Korea and India, to exhibit, sell, assemble and distribute their goods into the UK, Irish and European markets.

Peel said the only other centre of this type is located in Poland.

Peel Director Lindsey Ashworth said: “This is a fantastic and exciting project where everybody wins.

“All local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high quality products manufactured overseas and local people will have the opportunity to apply for the new jobs that will be created.”

Peel wants to build dozens of skyscrapers on both sides of the Mersey and already has planning permission for the Wirral scheme.

It is currently embroiled in a row with English Heritage about the size and scale of its plans in Liverpool where the city council is due to decide whether to grant planning permission later this year.

The outline application for the ITC includes four separate multi-level buildings totalling around 2.5m sq ft of floor space – the equivalent of 23 large football pitches.

Peel wants it to serve as a trading gateway in to the UK and Europe.

Goods will include but not be restricted to electrical and technology, clothing and fashion, kitchenware, furniture, fixtures and fittings, DIY products, building materials, toys, garden products, sporting goods and household items.

Mr Ashworth added: “It is the one thing that can kick start the whole Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters scheme is this.

“It will allow us to start building up a community of prosperity to develop the area.”

The four buildings are likely to be phased over the next 10 years and it is envisaged that first phase building construction will commence sometime next year.

Continues >>

[HollyBlack]

Originally Posted by Howie_P

BUILDING a £200m International Trade Centre would kick-start the £11bn scheme to regenerate docklands in Liverpool and Wirral, the company behind the plan said last night. Today, Peel will submit plans for ...

“All local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high quality products manufactured overseas and ...”

I thought they said it would be for Chinese products.

In the long term, the very last thing Britain, and indeed Europe needs is to stuff its homes and landfills to capacity with manufactured goods so cheap and so far from where built that they are uneconomic to repair the first time they fail. And financed by debt kindly provided by the Chinese. All while the indigenous manufacturing industry wastes away.

On the other hand if it is not built in Birkenhead it will be built somewhere else. And, if it happens (not exactly the promised quality high-rise is it?) that will be good for Birkenhead. But not good for the UK or the EU in the long term. And Birkenhead has been so deprived for so long it certainly deserves a break.

[Awayo]

Excellent post, Holly. Good on the specifics but with a interesting take on the bigger picture.

[Yorkshire Boy]

Good news on the face of it!

[yoshef]

An aerial picture of the site

[Rock Savage]

Originally Posted by HollyBlack

I thought they said it would be for Chinese products.

In the long term, the very last thing Britain, and indeed Europe needs is to stuff its homes and landfills to capacity with manufactured goods so cheap and so far from where built that they are uneconomic to repair the first time they fail. And financed by debt kindly provided by the Chinese. All while the indigenous manufacturing industry wastes away.

On the other hand if it is not built in Birkenhead it will be built somewhere else. And, if it happens (not exactly the promised quality high-rise is it?) that will be good for Birkenhead. But not good for the UK or the EU in the long term. And Birkenhead has been so deprived for so long it certainly deserves a break.

All true. But all these cheap clothes look good on our kids and keep Chinese kids off the streets rather than causing mischief. Surely that's a win / win situation.........

As you say though, it is better built here than elsewhere.

[Rock Savage]

Originally Posted by yoshef

An aerial picture of the site

Out of interest yoshef, why can't that dock area be converted for cruise liners? It seems to be big enough and has great views.

[HollyBlack]

Originally Posted by Rock Savage

Out of interest yoshef, why can't that dock area be converted for cruise liners? It seems to be big enough and has great views.

The simple answer is that Alfred lock isn't nearly big enough.
A cruise liner stage could be built at Woodside (designed to berth a ferry also).
Seacombe is too shallow.

[Rock Savage]

Originally Posted by HollyBlack

The simple answer is that Alfred lock isn't nearly big enough.
A cruise liner stage could be built at Woodside (designed to berth a ferry also).
Seacombe is too shallow.

Thanks for that.

A stage at woodside would be cool but limited in the number it could handle I guess.

So could those dock not be made big enough by widening them etc? Perhaps then, for or five ships could be handled simultaneously.

[Martin S]

Originally Posted by HollyBlack

And, if it happens (not exactly the promised quality high-rise is it?)

The West Float area was never earmarked for high rise buildings. Peel originally planned that this area would continue with its present port activities but would be subject to further investment.

[Martin S]

Originally Posted by Awayo

A planning application, Buggs. That is all so far. Apart from warm words, promises and mystery investors from the orient. But here's hoping.

The thing is of course is that Peel aren't total BS merchants in the spirit of Walton Group. They do sometimes develop things. The Trafford Centre for example and Media City, once absolute certain that they have occupiers, and only then with at very modest architectural quality. It's the constant mega-promises that are issued inbetween their fitful development activity that is leading to scepticism here.

To be fair to Peel they did say when Wirral Waters was announced that it would be about four or five years before a planning application was submitted.

On a scheme of this size, even a planning application is a major undertaking requiring planning, negotiation and liaison with a very large number of interested parties.

[HollyBlack]

Originally Posted by Rock Savage

...
So could those dock {sic - Alfred Lock} not be made big enough by widening them etc? Perhaps then, for or five ships could be handled simultaneously.

Originally Posted by HollyBlack

The 1929 rebuild (larger locks) for Alfred Dock cost GBP1.3M back then, that's 60M Pounds at today's prices according to a suitable and commonplace inflation engine. Admittedly two river entrances then and techniques have improved for very large projects now, but it's still [more money than any in-river terminal.]

If it ever happens it will be after space for in-river terminals is all used up.

[yoshef]

Planning docs are here, if anyone is interested.

http://www.peelitc.co.uk/#/planning_documents.php