Work has started on the development of a 330,000 sq ft logistics and warehousing unit which is expected to create hundreds of jobs in Staffordshire.
Cole Waterhouse, in partnership with Peveril Securities, is developing the Novus Point at Lymedale Business Park, with funding from Aver Property, a joint venture between NFU Mutual and Ergo Real Estate.
Outline planning consent was initially granted in July 2020 to speculatively develop the industrial building and the subsequent reserved matters application has now been approved by Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council.
Bowmer & Kirkland has been appointed to complete the scheme and, following land remediation works and the demolition of previous structures on site, the steel frame has now been erected in the first stage of the programme.
Designed by MHA Architects, Novus Point is projected create approximately 500 permanent jobs through operation, along with about 144 construction and 169 supply chain jobs during the two-year build programme.
Damian Flood, chief executive at Cole Waterhouse, said: "We're pleased to have made a swift start following approval of the reserved matters application and look forward to bringing Novus Point forward as soon as possible.
"The Staffordshire gateway connects the north and south and is a well-established distribution location, with ASDA, New Look, Parcelforce and TK Maxx all based here, and we have already had a significant level of interest from a market which is hungry for well-located, high-quality logistics space."
Lichfields advised on planning. The project team also includes structural engineer Renaissance, planning and cost consultant Henry Riley and Novo Integration providing M&E services.