A host of North West dignitaries, stakeholders and private sector partners gathered last week to celebrate with Omega Warrington Ltd (OWL) on the commencement of works for the first occupier at the North West's £1bn Omega Opportunity in Warrington.

The progress made on the new 200,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art logistics centre for Brakes, which last week was marked by the final steel sheets being laid down to complete the roof, means that the premises for the grocery and fresh food supplier will be operational by the end of 2013. The new Brakes premises, which will bring hundreds of jobs to the area, is being funded by clients of LaSalle Investment Management

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Progress for Omega's first occupier was just the start of things to come according to hints at the event by Andrew Sutherland, Joint MD of Miller Developments and partner of Omega Warrington Ltd: "We are very happy to be celebrating the fact that the Omega project is now firmly underway. We are all committed to building on this first success to enable the wider project to become a strong commercial reality, and a magnet for investment in the North West.

"This first deal has been a crucial kick-start to the scheme as it includes a £7m infrastructure contract for an access road and associated services that is now opening up Omega North to make this far more attractive for further investment logistics occupiers. On that basis, we are very close to making a number of further significant occupier announcements which will mean millions of pounds of investment and over 2,000 new permanent jobs over the next couple of years."

In addition to further deals on Omega North, it is expected that an announcement will also be made shortly in relation to the first occupier on a plot being brought forward on Omega South. This plot would become a major north west logistics centre for a well-known occupier as part of a wider emerging mixed use masterplan for Omega South which will be presented for public consultation.

(CD)