A former docklands oil complex is in line for demolition to make way for a major automotive supply park in Wirral. The proposed venture would create around 1,000 new jobs at a series of factories producing parts for local car makers, including General Motors at Ellesmere Port and Jaguar Land Rover in Liverpool. Developers Peel are behind the scheme, which could be up and running by 2015. The former Mobil factory at West Float, Birkenhead, has been earmarked for the park. Wirral Council leader Phil Davies said: “There is a big market for this – the vast majority of automotive parts are imported. “We launched a campaign to attract automotive suppliers and there is government backing through the local infrastructure fund. “This is a significant site and the Mobil structures will be demolished with clearance work starting early next year. The site is very close to the motorway network so distribution would not be a problem.” The involvement of one major supplier could create up to 500 jobs with other smaller suppliers boosting the jobs tally further. Councillor Davies said: “It will bring back to this country an awful lot of jobs that were lost to places like China and India.” Kevin Adderley, Wirral Council’s strategic director for regeneration and environment, said when the scheme was first mooted: “If you take General Motors and Jaguar Land Rover and you add together the wheels that go with the cars, there are 400,000 cars made from their factories a year- so that’s 2m alloy wheels, none of which are made in the UK.” “We are working with the automotive suppliers to get these parts manufactured in the UK, on Wirral.” Phil Milwood from General Motors said the scheme would cut costs and provide opportunities for the area. He commented:”We have got significant freight costs with moving all these parts into the country. There is really now a compelling business case to move these companies – if we can get the right suppliers – on to our shores to make parts.”
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 22:50:51 +0000
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