Boosting employment opportunities with a leading toy manufacturer

What we did

PWA was instructed to provide full planning consultancy services to support the proposals. This involved working closely with the wider project team to develop a robust planning application.

The proposed site was not allocated for employment use in the local plan, which meant the planning submission required a strong justification. The site was also close to residential areas, raising additional sensitivities related to amenity, traffic, and design.

Key to our role was preparing a detailed planning statement that set out the economic benefits of the proposal, which would create over 500 direct construction roles, 186 full-time equivalent roles, and add around £14m to the region’s economy annually once fully operational.

We also coordinated technical reports, engaged with the local planning authority, and navigated policy constraints associated with the unallocated site status.

Our strategy focused on demonstrating the site’s sustainable location and the positive impact the scheme would have on Fleetwood’s economy and community.

The development allows HTI Group to consolidate its operations into a single UK headquarters, providing office, manufacturing, and storage space on one site.

The scheme represents a significant inward investment in Fleetwood, delivering wide-ranging economic and employment benefits.