Approval has been granted for the construction of a new UK parts distribution centre at the Ellesmere Port complex.

Leading commercial property developer, Stoford will deliver the 668,000 sq ft unit at the historic car manufacturing facility in Hooton Park, on behalf of global automaker Stellantis.

The purpose-built development includes three storey office accommodation with a two storey hub and will be built on an area of land off West Road. It will become a UK parts distribution centre for Stellantis.

The new building will be marked by its sustainability credentials, with consideration given to minimising embodied carbon and reducing energy consumption.

Features include photovoltaic roof panels, rainwater harvesting, LED lighting and an energy monitoring system, with the unit targeted to achieve a minimum EPC rating of ‘A’ and an excellent BREEAM rating. Staff will benefit from an external wellbeing area, bicycle storage and EV car charging points.

The development has been sympathetically designed to preserve the integrity of the existing listed structures on the former Hooton Park Airfield, which will see the ground and building floor levels of the new facility recessed into the existing slope.

Construction is expected to start on site in June 2022 with the new building programmed for completion in July 2023.

Stoford Joint Managing Director, Dan Gallagher said that the new UK distribution centre represented a major investment and would ensure the longevity of Hooton Park as a significant employment site.

“This is a high-quality sustainable development that will deliver significant economic benefits,” he said.“

Our team has worked in close collaboration with Stellantis for the last 12 months to design a modern distribution building that meets its requirements, whilst recognising the historic importance of the wider site. It is an important step in the expansion of Ellesmere Port and we anticipate that the new development will create jobs for up to 1,300 construction operatives.”