Newsroom

30 June 2026

New road makes a big impact for local Lancashire business

A new access road connecting Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone is already helping local businesses grow. Vickers Way, which links Common Edge Road to Amy Johnson Way, opened last month to improve access to the Enterprise Zone.

A group of workers gathered at the entrance to a warehouse wearing yellow high-visibility vests. Two workers are cutting a re ribbon with scissors to announce the opening of the Natures Aid warehouse.

One of the first businesses to benefit is Natures Aid, a well-established Lancashire company, which has now opened a new distribution centre on Amy Johnson Way, just at the end of Vickers Way.

Originally based in Kirkham, the business was operating at full capacity and looking to relocate their dispatch operations to a new facility designed to accommodate growing demands.

The new facility on Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone will enable over 500,000 packs to be dispatched per month. Products will be picked same day and efficiently dispatched to customers in over 50 countries worldwide, including major retailers Holland & Barrett and Amazon. Six staff have moved to the new site as part of the transition, with capacity to expand the team further as the business continues to grow.

The opening of Vickers Way has created a quicker, more direct route between the new distribution centre and the company’s manufacturing base in Kirkham, located approximately 6 miles away, saving valuable commuting time when transferring goods.

The renovation of the warehouse was delivered through a three-month construction programme, using a range of local suppliers and contractors. The new space is modern and efficient, allowing the business to streamline its distribution processes and deliver a better service to customers.

Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment, said:

“It’s fantastic to see the impact that Vickers Way is already having in supporting local businesses to grow. Creating a new access road to the Enterprise Zone has significantly improved connectivity, making the site even more attractive for investment, which is essential to support business growth and help create high-quality jobs for local people. The new road has also unlocked new development opportunities to enable long-term economic growth across the Fylde Coast, which is all part of the council’s plan to make Blackpool better for both residents and businesses. We are already seeing strong interest in the new development land, with more local companies looking to follow Natures Aid and expand within the area.”

Craig Kennett, Head of Operations at Natures Aid, said:

“We are delighted to move on to Blackpool Enterprise Zone and occupy a fantastic modern facility to drive future growth in our business. We have already started to enjoy the benefits of having all our stock under one roof, achieving 99.8% of picks within a 24-hour period to give our customers a much improved service. We now have a more efficient and cost effective model for the dispatching of finished goods and a highly motivated team enjoying working from the new facility.”

 

Funding for the new access road has been supported by a £7.5m grant from the UK Government, as part of the Blackpool Town Deal awarded in 2022.

Vickers Way also features a shared footpath and cycle lane to support safe and sustainable access for pedestrians and cyclists accessing the business park. Public transport connectivity has also been enhanced, with Blackpool Transport running a bus service along the new route.

Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone sits across Blackpool and Fylde and is already home to over 200 businesses, supporting over 4,000 jobs with an ambition to create 5,000 new jobs in the area by 2041.

Prime commercial land either side of Vickers Way is now available, providing space for businesses to grow and create more jobs in the area.

Interested businesses can enquire online.

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