Estuary commerce park bathes in success

Once upon a time, regeneration planners unveiled a dream to turn a derelict chunk of Speke into one of the UK's premier business parks. They said they could attract £50m of investment, create 80,000 sq ft of business and industrial space and generate 2,600 jobs. So, 10 years on, has the dream been realised? An emphatic yes. Estuary Commerce Park has indeed become a flagship development and has already developed 900,000 sq ft of space and created 3,500 jobs - with more to come.

The plan was originally launched by Speke Garston Development Company with £14.5m of European Objective 1 funding. These days it is run by the former Liverpool Land Development Company, now attached to Liverpool Vision.

The last prime plot at Estuary Commerce Park has been held back in the hope of attracting a premier blue chip company. The development site is on the frontage of what has become Liverpool's flagship business park over the past 10 years. It is one of just three large sites left at the 50 hectare location which has attracted leading companies such as Littlewoods, Communists and Bank of Scotland.

Rob Monaghan, of Liverpool Vision, said: "It has taken longer than expected to develop but that has allowed us to do it in a measured and controlled way. We regard it is a quality location and the city's number one business park." Of the plots left, public service infrastructure maintenance firm, Enterprise, is taking 100,000 sq ft while UK Land and Property is developing the first 25,000 sq ft of speculative office space.

Around 900,000 sq ft of land has been developed on the 33 acre site, generating 3,500 jobs. It was over a decade ago that Speke Garston Development Company was formed with the goal of using European Objective 1 funding to create a premier business destination close to Liverpool Airport.

Mr Monaghon added: "There was a vision to create an attractive environment for leading businesses and that's what we have managed to achieve." Other long term leasehold tenants include The National Blood Centre, National Biomanufacturing Centre and Riverside Housing.