Intermodal Logistics Park North Rail freight scheme consultation launched

THE SCHEME which could provide  circa 6,00 jobs and generate some £230 million GVA once operational is located on the southeastern edge of Newton-le-Willows, an area that largely encompasses the former Parkside Colliery.

It is set to provide 8.25 million ft2 plus of industrial and logistics space made up of 6.35 million ft2 at ground floor level and the rest totaling some 1.9 million ft2 at mezzanine level comprising a mixture of units with the potential to be rail connected, rail served and rail accessible.

As well as the warehouse space the scheme will also provide a rail freight interchange capable of handling up to 16 trains of 775m in length a day including connections to the mainline and ancillary development such as container storage, cranes for the loading and unloading of shipping containers, HGV parking, rail control building, fuelling facilities and staff facilities.

In addition, the scheme will provide a lorry park with welfare facilities and fuelling, a new electrical sub station, energy centre and potential battery storage, a landscaped amenity areas, new woodland and connections for footpaths, cycleways, and bridleways, and public transport hub.

It will have a dedicated road access from Junction 22 of the M6 via Parkside Link Road East.

Together, these proposals position ILPN RFI as a regionally and nationally significant logistics hub, enabling a shift from road to rail freight, supporting jobs and supply chains, and contributing to the UK’s decarbonisation goals.

Once the consultation is complete and amendments made Tritax  is aiming to submit  for a DCO in early 2026 and subject to  approval around the end of 2027, to be on site in Q4 2027/2028.

Tritax Big Box has also announced the expansion of its Symmetry Park Rugby scheme in the Midlands. It has submitted a 1.4 million ft2 hybrid application which includes a detailed proposal for a 300,000 ft2 logistics unit and the creation of Cawston Landscape Park (CLP), a 20-acre green space featuring new footpaths linked to existing public rights of way, communal orchards with edible planting, and levelled areas for informal sports and play.

In July this year, Logistics Matters reported that TBBD had completed the letting of Unit 5, a speculatively built 391,000 ft2 facility to Iron Mountain on a 15-year lease. 

Two further speculatively developed units remain available comprising 338,064 ft2 and 170,473 ft2. The buildings have been built to net-zero carbon in construction and have a BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+ rating.

The site forms part of the wider South West Rugby Urban Extension which will also add 5,000 new homes, bringing forward further labour and amenity benefits.

The project team includes Framptons Town Planning (Planning Consultants), EDP (Ecology and Landscaping), Stantec (Highways and Transport), Tier Consult (Civil and Structural Engineers), Rider Levitt Bucknall (Project Manager), McBains (Quantity Surveyor), Ridge (BREEAM), Basepower (Utilites) and MBA (M&E).

Colliers International & ILP Partners are joint letting agents.