A major roofing supplier has secured unanimous planning permission to build a large new storage and distribution centre at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, a move set to consolidate its local operations and create new jobs.
Blackpool Council’s planning committee approved the reserved matters application for the 1,742 square metre facility at a meeting on Tuesday, 25 February. The approval allows Roofing Supplies Group Ltd to proceed with detailed plans for the development, which will see the firm amalgamate two existing depots near the site into a single, modern facility.
According to a planning statement submitted on behalf of the company, the new double-height building will include a mezzanine floor, with a ridge height of 7.9 metres. The scheme also features a rear service yard containing bin stores and open storage racking, alongside extensive landscaping. The applicants have agreed to adhere to several conditions attached to an earlier outline planning consent granted last year.
Roofing Supplies Group Ltd was established in 2001 and has grown to become a leading independent roofing merchant in the North West, specialising in materials for both pitched and flat roofs. The company underwent a restructuring in March 2023, with “North West Roofing Supplies” and the newly created “North East Roofing Supplies” becoming brands under its umbrella. It operates depots in St Annes, Manchester, St Helens, Morecambe, Carlisle, Deeside, Burnley, and has expanded into the North East with a branch in Wallsend, Newcastle.
Enterprise Zone Expansion Gathers Pace
The new centre will sit within the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone (BAEZ), a 144-hectare economic development area spanning Blackpool and Fylde. Designated in November 2015 and operational since April 2016, the zone has a 25-year lifespan with the aim of creating up to 5,000 jobs and securing over £300 million in private investment by 2041. It already hosts over 200 businesses and approximately 4,000 jobs, with a focus on aviation, advanced manufacturing, and digital technology.
The roofing firm’s project is part of a significant physical expansion of the zone. A new £18.5 million access road connecting Common Edge Road and Amy Johnson Way is nearing completion, which will unlock 10.5 hectares of new development land. This road forms part of a wider £54 million infrastructure investment by Blackpool Council, which fully owns Blackpool Airport after purchasing it in 2017.
Further infrastructure work is underway to support growth. Electricity North West is investing £7.5 million to upgrade the local power network, installing new underground cables and a primary substation to meet an increased demand of 30 MVA from the Enterprise Zone.
Other key projects within the BAEZ include the ‘Eastern Gateway’, a 10.5-hectare plot where the council has submitted plans for eight industrial and office units totalling 243,000 square feet. Another initiative, ‘Silicon Sands’, aims to establish Blackpool as a hub for high-performance computing and sustainable data centres, with plans for a 6MW carbon-friendly data centre. That project has secured £2 million from the Lancashire Devolution deal.
