Planning secured for Wingates development

22 June 2021

Harworth Group plc

("Harworth" or the "Company")

Planning secured for 1.1 million sq ft commercial development at Wingates

Harworth Group plc, a leading regenerator of land and property for development and investment, is pleased to announce that it has secured planning approval for the development of up to 1.1 million sq ft of logistics and manufacturing space at its site in Wingates, Bolton, with the potential to create up to 1,500 new jobs.

The site at Wingates is adjacent to Junction 6 of the M61 and is in close proximity to Harworth's existing Logistics North site, the North West's largest live commercial development. Harworth has progressed Logistics North through a range of delivery options, including land sales, direct development and joint ventures, enabling the scheme to be delivered in eight years. Today over 5,500 people are employed at the site across 3 million sq ft of Grade A logistics and manufacturing space.

The Wingates site benefits from direct accessibility to the motorway network and is ideally situated to serve the northwest quadrant of Greater Manchester, providing regional connectivity to the north and south via the M61/M6 and to the east and west via the M62. The site is also close to the towns of Bolton and Wigan, thereby ensuring employment opportunities for local people and delivering on the objectives of the Bolton Economic Strategy to attract business and investment to the area.

Alongside 1.1 million sq ft of commercial space, the proposed Wingates development will deliver significant upgrades to highway, drainage and utilities infrastructure, including a new access road. It will also provide boundary landscaping and an ecological enhancement area, as part of Harworth's ongoing commitment to promoting green spaces and protecting local biodiversity.   

The scheme originally received planning consent from Bolton Council in January 2020 but the application was subsequently called-in by the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government. Planning approval was granted following an Examination in Public that concluded earlier this year. 

Harworth intends to commence enabling works at the site in early 2022, in preparation for the first phase of commercial development, which is due to begin later that year.

The Wingates development forms part of Harworth's 26.1 million sq ft industrial & logistics pipeline, of which 9.0 million sq ft is currently consented. Harworth intends to progress the delivery of new space across this pipeline during the year, including at:

·     Gateway 36, Barnsley, where enabling works are currently underway for up to 1.1 million sq ft of space as part of Phases 2 and 3 of the development;

·    Bardon Hill, Leicestershire, where outline planning consent is in place for up to 350,000 sq ft of space, with the direct development of the first industrial units due to commence this summer; and

·     the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Waverley, where construction will shortly commence of an additional 52,000 sq ft across two units.

Harworth also has medium-term development intentions for up to 1.8 million sq ft of industrial & logistics space, which it intends to progress through the planning system over the coming year.

Lynda Shillaw, Chief Executive of Harworth commented: "Securing planning for our Wingates development marks a significant milestone for us and will have a substantial positive effect on the local economy in terms of construction, permanent jobs and investment. It will allow Bolton businesses to expand, while at the same time improving highways infrastructure and protecting local biodiversity and green spaces. Harworth has a proven track record of delivering large scale employment space, for example at our nearby Logistics North site, and we look forward to replicating this success as we work with local stakeholders to bring these exciting plans forward."

For further information

About Harworth

Listed on the Premium Segment of the Main Market, Harworth Group plc (LSE: HWG) is a leading sustainable regenerator of land and property for development and investment which owns, develops and manages a portfolio of approximately 16,000 acres of land on around 100 sites located throughout the North of England and Midlands. The Group specialises in the regeneration of large, complex sites, in particular former industrial sites, into new residential developments and employment areas (www.harworthgroup.com).

LEI: 213800R8JSSGK2KPFG21