EAMONN McManus, the chairman of the St Helens Economy Board, has welcomed the job opportunities that will come as result of the Florida Farm North development.

Outline planning consent was granted for the M6Major.com scheme in January 2017.

The £150 million development will consist of two industrial and distribution warehouses beside the A580 in Haydock.

On Tuesday, St Helens Council’s planning committee approved two reserved matters application, determining the final details to enable the immediate construction of the buildings.

One of the buildings, a circa 370,000 sq ft unit, has been significantly reduced in size from that set out in the original plans, as it is now being built specifically for a dedicated end-user.

A second circa 500,000 sq ft unit will also be constructed, although an end user has yet to be found.

Despite the downsizing, Bericote Properties, the developer, maintain the two units will see the creation of 2,500 jobs.

Mr McManus, who is also chairman of St Helens rugby league club, welcomed the news.

He said: “The fact that this is a design and build project for a dedicated end-user shows the confidence that exists in investing in St Helens at this time.

“On top of the announcement earlier in the year of Movianto moving to the borough and bringing 400 jobs, this latest £150 million project in the borough just shows that St Helens is going places, with new job opportunities being created too.”

Fears have previously been raised that, given the logistics industry’s increasing reliance on automated technology, the number of jobs would be reduced.

However, Mr McManus is confident this will not be the case.

“Earlier this year we held a major conference in St Helens on the changing nature of the logistics and supply chain sector,” he said.

“Leading speakers spoke about the attractiveness of the sector increasingly to women as well as the upskilling underway in response to the industry being more automated as facilities now often need computer programming staff as well as what people might traditionally think.

“The companies operating from these facilities are increasingly technology businesses, so just because there is more technology involved, it doesn’t mean there is necessarily less jobs.

“A facility of around 400,000 sq ft could quite easily employ 600 to 800 people, while a bigger unit could employ many more, and at a time when we need more jobs in our economy that is not to be sniffed at.”

The St Helens Economy Board chairman added that, given the level of investment, the facility should deliver long-term jobs.

He said: “They can also be long-term jobs often as the capital investment in a new facility means they will be operational for many, many years.

“You don’t commit tens of millions worth of investment to close it down again a few years later.

“With youth unemployment an issue across the whole country – including St Helens – this is something that has to be seen as significantly important.”

Keith Wilson, development director for Bericote Properties, called the investment the “biggest in a generation”.

He said: “Bericote prides itself on delivering on its promises and we are pleased to be moving so quickly towards completing this important scheme.

“We have an enviable track record in providing high quality logistics facilities and both buildings will be constructed by mid 2019.

“A major international occupier has been secured for Unit 1 and a £40 million investment has been secured to fund the construction of the second building.

“This development will be the biggest investment in St Helens in a generation with a lasting legacy of significant job creation.”