PARKSIDE has the potential to be a key national development site, Government officials say.

The Newton-le-Willows site was visited by delegates from the Department for International Trade as part of a two-day visit to the Liverpool City Region Freeport.

During the visit, the team discovered the scale of the site and the potential it offers to help drive interest from potential companies from around the world.

The site recently received the Freeport status last month.

READ > Freeport will 'unlock Parkside's potential', says council

Parkside is a key part of the Liverpool City Region’s Freeport as the largest of the three "tax sites" in the region.

It represents a major opportunity to attract a range of end users across the target markets of logistics and advanced manufacturing, thereby supporting creation of high value jobs on the site.

It will strengthen the role that the St Helens borough plays in the region’s position as an attractive location for global trade, inward investment and innovation.  

The Freeport status builds on the borough's advanced manufacturing capability, logistics and the borough’s emerging location for research and innovation.

Representatives had heard of the potential for the site, previously recognised as being in a "sweet spot between Liverpool and Manchester" by Government planning inspectors, and had the chance to see the work done on Parkside Link Road.

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, said: "Parkside is one of the most desirable development sites regionally thanks to its Freeport status, fantastic connectivity both by land and rail and the fact that our work alongside the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to build the Parkside Link Road now opens up access for greater growth.

"It’s vital we gain all the support we can to capitalise on the strengths of the site and our partnership with Langtree.

"We welcome support from the Department for International Trade to bring in big advanced manufacturing organisations who will create jobs for our residents and bring growth for local businesses alike through the supply chain and is a perfect example of how we want our draft Inclusive Growth Strategy to work by unlocking potential that benefits our residents as much as businesses."