Plans for warehouse approved after 100 objections

Plans for a £96m storage and distribution business on the site of a former printing hall have been approved, despite more than 100 objections.

GB Europe Holdings Limited submitted a planning application for the warehouse on the site of the former Prinovis UK factory in Speke, Liverpool, which was destroyed in a controlled explosion in the summer.

The plans have now been signed off by Liverpool City Council, who said the business would be a state-of-the-art facility that would create about 500 jobs.

Ed Harvey, planning agent on behalf of GB Europe, said there had been extensive public consultation over the bid and changes had been made to how the site would be acessed.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), more than 100 neighbour objections were received during the initial consultation.

Addressing the planning committee, Garston Councillor Lucy Williams said the plans for the 88,000m warehouse "demand extra scrutiny".

She said: "It doesn't seem like a project that is meaningful for our community."

She said the area was already under pressure with heavy goods vehicles from other sites in the area.

James Hill, GB Europe development director, said after engagement with the community, access to the site would be from Dakota Drive only, rather than Blackburne Street.

The council announced the plans had been approved earlier.

It said: "Plans for a £96m logistics hub in Speke transforming a former industrial site into a state-of-the-art facility," the authority said.

"It will create around 500 jobs and strengthen Liverpool's position as a key player in global trade. Economic growth and regeneration in our city."

The Prinovis closed its factory in June 2023, and more than 200 jobs were lost as a result.

Its closure was first confirmed in 2022, citing a downturn in the market.

The new logistics facility will be operated by Uniserve, part of the GB Europe Holdings group of companies.

Once fully operational, it is hoped that more than 500 new jobs will be created within the area, generating around £35m for the local economy.

This is in addition to up to approximately 275 jobs supported during construction.

The existing outdated buildings will be replaced with a purpose-built facility providing office space, HGV loading and staff parking.

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