£3.4 million Grant Create Over 300 Jobs On Knowsley Business Park Development

Derelict land at the heart of Knowsley Industrial Estate will be transformed into a prestegious business park - creating more than 300 jobs - after £3 million of public sector funding was approved.

The 28 acre Alchemy development is considered one of the most important business park sites in Mersyside and has secured grants from the Merseyside Objective One Programme through Approach 580 Strategic Investment Area (£2.8 million) and Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA - £1.3 million).

Developers the Langtree Group will also invest £2.4 million in creating 10 new industrial units for lease to small and medium sized businesses on short three to five year contracts.  The work will also involve building a new access road from the A580, East Lancashire Road, comprehensive landscaping and extensive security measures including CCTV.

The site is one of eight strategic investment areas across Merseyside where investment is being concentrated to help momentum of economic development.

The Approach 580 SIA Board is spearheading a £150 million European funded regeneration programme in Aintree, Gilmoss and Kirkby, a key gateway route between Knowsley and Liverpool.

Chair, Seamus Brady said: "We are very pleased to be supporting this exciting new development.  By providing this type of in-demand business space Alchemy will help us to meet our key objective of attracting investment and jobs to the Approach 580 SIA area.".

NWDA Area Manager, Paul Lakin said: "Based in a strategic investment area (SIA), the Alchemy site has huge potential to attract significant investment in the area.  The NWDA is pleased to support the development of a business park, which will make best use of the site and be a major source of wealth and job creation in Knowsley".

Merseyside Objective One Programme Director, Richard Nutter said: "Merseyside must be able to provide good quality business space if it is to continue to encourage local companies to grow and new firms to re-locate to the area.  The Alchemy site has hughe potential to attract significant investment in the area.  The NWDA is pleased to support the development of a business park, which will make best use of the site and be a major source of wealth and job creation in Knowsley".

Regional Director in the North West for the Langtree Group, Martin Mellor said: "This is our first major project in Knowsley and it fits perfectly with our growing profile of successful schemes on merseyside.  We continue to work closely with Knowsley MBC and the Approach 580 SIA Board to ensure that we attract the most beneficial mix of occupiers and capitalise on the fantastic opportunities Alchemy offers".

The start of work on site means that work can then begin in earnest on attracting investment and jobs to this scheme which is one of the flagship projects in the Approach 580 SIA.

Seamus Brady, Chair of the Approach 580 SIA Board, added: This is a key project in our regeneration programme and one that will act as a major catalyst for change.

The scheme will help to create many new employment opportunities for local people and at the same time it will make this part of the SIA more attractive for people who live and work in the area.