Harworth Estates has secured its third occupier at its flagship Logistics North development in Bolton.
Joy Global, a worldwide leader in high productivity mining solutions, has acquired an 8.3 acre site, where it will develop its new north west facility, comprising a test area, office space for storage and distribution, as well as land for open storage and car parking. Joy Global will move to Logistics North from its present base in Ince, Wigan.
Joy Global joins Aldi and MBDA as Logistics North’s first occupiers. Aldi is constructing its 600,000 sq ft facility, which will be its north west headquarters and distribution centre from spring 2016. MBDA is also constructing its 120,000 sq ft facility, which will be operational from early 2016.
The sale to Joy Global follows Harworth’s announcement in May that it had completed the first phase construction of the spine road and associated infrastructure, which opened up development plots, including the one purchased by Joy Global.
Logistics North was granted outline planning consent in December 2013 for 4 million sq ft of distribution and manufacturing space. This development is the largest manufacturing and distribution site with live planning consent in the north west, according to a survey undertaken by Planning Resource. It has also been independently estimated by Ekosgen that the development will add £335m to the north west’s economy and accommodate up to 7,300 new jobs once it has been built out.
Phil Wilson, Executive Director of Harworth Estates, said: “Logistics North continues to make a significant contribution to the north west’s economy and the swift progress we have made in bringing the site forward for development reflects our expertise at regenerating large, former mining sites.
“The deal with Joy Global reflects the ever-increasing demand for high-quality manufacturing and distribution space in the north of England and we expect to attract more high-calibre occupiers to the site in the remainder of 2015”.
Keith Davies, Director of Regeneration at Bolton Council, said: “Persuading a high-quality international company to relocate its facility here rather than another part of the country is great news for the region. This news further consolidates Logistics North as one of the region’s key economic development sites and is another big step forward in delivering the council’s economic strategy for Bolton”.
Harworth’s agents at Logistics North are JLL and DTZ.