Developer readies next phase of Frontier Park

Monte Blackburn, which is developing the Frontier Park logistics scheme in Blackburn, expects to start construction of the second phase of the project, totalling 300,000 sq ft, in March.

The investment vehicle, owned by Blackburn-based businessmen Mohsin and Zuber Issa, is also in talks with potential occupiers over developing a further plot at Frontier Park into a 250,000 sq ft bespoke warehouse, under a design and build contract.

That plot currently has outline planning consent.

Frontier Park is the Issa brothers’ flagship warehouse scheme, located adjacent to Junction 6 on the M65.

Around 400,000 sq ft of accommodation has already been, or is in the process of being, constructed, while all but 20,000 sq ft of the first phase has been pre-let to a range of occupiers.

The latest phase of development has been designed to provide units of between 50,000 sq ft and 150,000 sq ft, along with a phase of smaller starter units ranging between 3,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft.

A reserved matters planning application for the 300,000 sq ft scheme, is pending determination by the council and work is scheduled to start on site on 1 March. Completion is targeted for the fourth quarter.

The architect is Campbell Driver partnership, while Curtins is the engineer, PWA is planning consultant, Barnfield Construction is contractor and development manager is Kenwright Consultants.

Last March, Monte Blackburn agreed a 61,000 sq ft pre-let with machinery supplier Tek-Dry Systems to take part of Unit 1 at Pioneer Court.

The balance of Pioneer Court – three units totalling 80,000 sq ft – was to be completed last year. Other lettings agreed last year include 185,000 sq ft to MDA, part of Stacci Group, 30,000 sq ft to Modular Group, 77,150 sq ft to Royal Sanders, and a further 30,000 sq ft is under offer.

This leaves 20,000 sq ft of the first phase still available for leasing. The services hub at the front of the development already has a filling station, Spar, Subway, Greggs, Starbucks and KFC.

Monte has also made a further £25m investment into a 150-bedroom Hampton By Hilton hotel at the park, which is expected to complete later this year.

Alex Kenwright, development manager for Frontier Park, said: “The last 12 months have been great for Frontier Park – we have seen take-up of 95% of available space, started construction of the hotel and readied the next 300,000 sq ft warehouse phase to kick off construction in the next few weeks.

“The coming months are looking promising and our aim is to have the park fully built out and let up by spring 2021.”

B8 Real Estate and Trevor Dawson are joint letting agents on the scheme.