More than 300 jobs are to be created in the Liverpool City Region on three key projects after the combined authority announced a £2.65m investment from its Light Industrial Fund.
The funding has been approved for projects demonstrating high standards of environmental quality and a commitment to deliver social value through measures such as supporting local supply chains.
They are designed to retain ambitious indigenous SMEs looking to expand, and to attract new inward investment opportunities into the region, with the selected projects being industrial and commercial schemes in Wirral, Knowsley and St Helens.
It followed a "rigorous due diligence process", with the winning three projects named as Magazine Point in Bromborough, Image Park on Knowsley Industrial Estate and Gerard's Park Phase II in St Helens.
Announcing the funding on Tuesday, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “We’ve invested £2.65m to develop these sites right across our city region to ensure that we’re able to offer outstanding facilities that will keep attracting new businesses and jobs to the area, which is really important given the impact of Covid.
"Taken together, these sites are expected to create more than 300 local jobs.
“It’s fantastic to hear that some of the sites already have businesses signing up to take space – I’m sure it won’t be long before others follow!”
The Bromborough project is being led by Redsun Developments, and will create 55,000sq ft of industrial and commercial space due for completion early next year. It will deliver three units - one of which already has confirmed occupation.
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The Image Park scheme will see the former Kodak premises demolished by Seybourne Estates. The proposed redevelopment will see 65,000sq ft of space for industrial use.
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The Gerard's Park Phase II will be developed alongside the adjacent Phase I by Northern Trust. Work has now started to develop the scheme, which will be 35,600sq ft and targeted at smaller business units. The completed units will be ready for occupation in Autumn 2021.
Nick Wightman, director at Redsun Projects said: “The award of funding from the Combined Authority has been essential in kicking starting this development in the middle of a very uncertain time for the market.
"Construction has progressed really well and we look forward to welcoming occupiers to the completed units early next year.”
Mike Grindrod, director at Northern Trust added: “We are pleased to be working with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in bringing forward this strategic development.
"Given the current uncertainty in the economic climate, we feel it’s an important time for us to invest in creating flexible business space which will in turn generate job opportunities for the local economy.”