HBD and the Barnfield Group have submitted outline planning permission for a 25ha employment scheme at Roman Way in Preston which, if approved, has the potential to create circa 1,500 jobs.

The proposed development would deliver circa 800,000 sq. ft. of new industrial and warehouse space, helping to ease the significant shortage of suitable buildings within the region.

The site, an allocated employment site within Preston City Council’s Local Plan, sits to the east of the existing Roman Way Industrial Estate; a large and well-established industrial development.

Chris Newsome, Senior Development Surveyor at HBD, said: “The site is very well-connected, close to the motorway network and within just 1.2 miles of the M6, making it an ideal location for an industrial scheme of this caliber. It also sits adjacent to the very successful Roman Way Industrial Estate and would help to address the shortage of high-quality industrial space within the region, while providing thousands of new jobs.”

If the planning application is successful, infrastructure work would start on site later this year.

Tracy Clavell-Bate, Head of Development for Barnfield Group, said: “It is great to get the site to the planning stage; it hasn’t been without its challenges, but we are sure with it being a natural extension to the existing Roman Way site, which is fully occupied, that the development will be extremely successful if planning is granted.”

HBD and Barnfield have worked closely with the council since 2020 when initial pre-application discussions began. Since then, a range of technical experts and specialist consultants have been involved in completing comprehensive site assessments, alongside architects Fletcher Rae and Iceni Planning Consultants. Ridge was tasked with assessing flood risk and drainage, Bowland handled ecology and arboriculture, Mode managed highways, Sandy Brown handled acoustics and Applied Geology has considered any geo-environmental factors. Dean Young of Young &Co acted for the landowner.

The proposed scheme is the latest of several industrial projects delivered in joint venture by HBD and the Barnfield Group. EAST, an 18-acre strategic development site, is also located in Preston and has proved very successful; its 70,000 sq. ft. first phase was fully let prior to practical completion and the rest of the site under offer.

The partnership has also developed an 11.5-acre site in Huyton, Beacon 62, creating around 357 new jobs and transforming an important gateway site.