Speculative development starts at former Halewood International site

Liverpool-based property developer, Davos, has started work on the first phase of a speculative scheme, and refurbishment of Sovereign Industrial Park, at Huyton Business Park.

The 28-acre Liverpool site was the former HQ of Liverpool drinks company, Halewood International, which Davos acquired in 2022 from Network Space.

Located within the Liverpool City Region, Sovereign Industrial Zone benefits from Freeport Status and also forms part of the Liverpool City Region’s Life Sciences Investment Zone.

Main contractor, Barnfield Construction, has begun the construction of phase one, which will offer 185,535 sq ft across nine units, available on a leasehold basis from the first quarter of 2025. These units comprise: Unit C – 78,670 sq ft; Unit F1-F6 – 7,632-7,729 sq ft; Unit G1 – 33,325 sq ft (new build); Unit G2 – 25,188 sq ft (new build).

Strategically located on the M62/M57/ Knowsley Expressway Interchange, one of the largest commercial centres within the Liverpool City Region, this large scale redevelopment will provide a total of 396,385 sq ft across existing and new build industrial and logistics warehouses.

The development will achieve a BREEAM Very Good rating and the buildings will target an EPA A rating for all of the units.

Planning has been submitted for phase two which extends to 210,850 sq ft across two highly sustainable units measuring 145,250 sq ft and 65,600 sq ft.

Subject to a positive planning approval, work is scheduled to commence in September 2024.

Jon Thorne, partner at B8RE, sole agents for the scheme, said: “This extensive development work will include a comprehensive refurbishment/re-modelling of all existing buildings, together with the addition of two new build units to provide a highly specified scheme which will meet the current occupier demand in this area of Merseyside.”