Class of ’92 kicks off PLP’s UK launch event at the AJ Bell Stadium

Approaching 200 invited guests joined the PLP team for a packed programme of entertainment at the AJ Bell Stadium on Thursday 7 August, culminating in a unique football match, when the ‘Class of ‘92’ took on Salford City FC.

PLP’s Matthew Fitton got the UK launch event underway, with a première of the PLP film before updating the audience on progress to date. Matthew Fitton then introduced Andy Martin – group head of property at strategic alliance partner Peel Ports.

Martin highlighted developments at Liverpool2, which is set to be the UK’s most central deep water container terminal, offering a state-of-the art freight gateway at the heart of Great Britain.

‘When it’s completed in late 2015, Liverpool2 will be the UK’s leading transatlantic port and will be able to accommodate 95% of the world’s fleet of container vessel types, linking with markets in the Americas, India, Far East, Caribbean, Mediterranean and the Baltics’, he explained.

Martin added ‘Liverpool 2 will be THE central UK logistics hub, located at the heart of supply chains with the fastest and most efficient onward connections to the Irish Sea Hub, and the UK’s first “green logistics hub” with the potential to considerably reduce transportation costs, congestion and carbon footprint for businesses importing and exporting to and from the UK’s central gateway.’

He also detailed the design and build warehousing opportunities at the 75-acre multi-modal Port Cheshire site, before updating guests on developments at Port Salford.

Matthew Fitton then returned to the lectern to discuss Knowsley 700 and Liverpool International Business Park.

The Knowsley 700 site was acquired speculatively and Matthew Fitton outlined the rationale for the acquisition key points being the opportunity to acquire a large scale land asset in a a well-established commercial location such as Knowsley Business Park being attractive.  In addition, the ability to deliver buildings of 700,000 sq ft unit with an adjacent rail freight terminal and high power availability made it an attractive proposition.  The marketing of the site has now commenced.

Fitton then went on to speak about Liverpool International Business Park where over 2 million sq ft has been delivered to date.

Fitton explained that the automotive sector in particular was particularly buoyant in the area with the continued expansion of nearby Jaguar Landrover resulting in automotive supply chain contractors requiring new facilities in the immediate vicinity.  Fitton sees Liverpool International Business Park as a clear beneficiary of this particular sector’s growth.

Matt Fitton explained proposals were being worked up for a 200,000 sq ft design and build facility that will be marketed directly to the automotive sector.

Matt Fitton also spoke about Liverpool.

Developments such as the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley are also providing logistics solutions to high value economies, as Iain Thomson, partnerships manager at Harworth Estates, explained:

‘Logistics needs to be thought of as going beyond simply ‘storage and distribution for retail’ and to encompass broader supply chain requirements. AMP will enable ‘just in time’ supply chain management to support the North’s thriving automotive and transport engineering sector.’

AMP is part of the 740-acre Waverley site, Yorkshire’s largest ever mixed-use brownfield development.

‘Demand for space is extremely high’, added Iain, ‘and we are now bringing forward plans on a further 27 acres. By the time it is fully built out, Waverley will have over 5,000 people employed on the site with an estimated GVA of £300 million per annum.

‘We are confident that the development of the AMP at Waverley will become a site at the heart of the North’s economic renaissance.’

And, finally, Thomson updated guests on Logistics North near Bolton, where Aldi is confirmed as anchor tenant for the relocation of its regional distribution centre. ‘We’ve drawn down the first tranche of GMIF monies and first phase infrastructure works are well underway’, he advised.

The serious stuff over, comedian Archie Kelly (of Phoenix Nights fame) took to the stage for an exuberant half-hour set before an entertaining Q&A session with Gary Neville.

The match saw Salford City FC get the scoring underway with the first goal after 27 minutes and they then scored another just 7 minutes later! A Giggs penalty at the stroke of half time gave the Class of 92 their first goal. At 51 minutes Salford City FC scored again and then again at 72 minutes. The final goal of the night at 83 minutes for Salford, saw the match finish at 5-1 to Salford City FC.