THE largest industrial letting deal in the North West this year will mean 50 new jobs for the Port.
Prowell, a corrugated cardboard manufacturer, is to run its UK distribution hub from Ellesmere Port Logistics Centre, an enormous 210,000 sq ft facility located on the newly-created Pioneer Business Park.
The company, a full subsidiary of Progroup AG, based in Offenbach, Germany, selected the Port for its first UK base after considering a range of sites in Cheshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands. The company already operates from nine other locations across Europe.
Howard George, of joint letting agent CBRE, explained this site was chosen because of its motorway links, proximity to port facilities, the deal being offered by the landlords Goodmans, and the support received from the local authorities in Cheshire and Ellesmere Port and the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA).
Borough council leader, Cllr Justin Madders said: “Prowell’s decision to locate in Ellesmere Port is a fantastic boost for the town.
“It is clearly a recognition of the huge investment that has been made here by the private and public sector recently.
“The borough offers businesses a dynamic location, with superb transport links, a wide range of good quality commercial sites and premises, and access to a motivated and productive local workforce.”
Prowell’s company philosophy is based around innovation and speed. They use high tech systems, which are considered to be among the fastest in their market sector. They offer on-line ordering 24 hours a day providing a streamlined service through their numerous European bases.
Ellesmere Port Logistics Centre is one of several new developments created in the last couple of years in Ellesmere Port’s Economic Development Zone (EDZ).
The EDZ programme, led by the borough council with the help of European ERDF and Government funding from the NWDA, has seen a multi-million pound public investment around the M53.
This funding has been used to reclaim industrial land and to attract developers to create a number of modern, high quality business units fit for the 21st century. More than 1m square feet of industrial and office space has been created with over 10 business parks and industrial estates being established since 2005.
