Ask Real Estate (Ask) has acquired the final 7.8 acre plot at Manchester Business Park close to Manchester Airport, from ARC.  The Manchester-based developer plans to build 9 prime last mile logistics units on the site, delivering circa 114,000 sq ft of space. The high-quality units will range in size from 6,700 sq ft to 21,646 sq ft and will appeal to a range of businesses including those in hi-tech industries, aviation, logistics and warehousing. Situated in a prime South Manchester location with immediate access to the M56 and A555 the site will provide occupiers with excellent connectivity locally and regionally with global connections via Manchester Airport. The units will deliver the highest sustainability and smart credentials, will be BREEAM Excellent, EPC A and designed to be net zero in operation. The development of the final plot at Manchester Business Park will complete the Park. Commenting on the acquisition, which was funded by Ask using internal resources, Managing Director John Hughes said: “Manchester Business Park is in a highly prominent location, within Manchester Airport’s strategic employment site and the thriving North West ecosystem of technology, manufacturing, distribution and digital businesses. This is a prime location for developing high quality logistics and industrial facilities which will have exemplary sustainability credentials and superb connectivity through the airport and adjacent motorway networks.” The development sits at Junction 5 of the M56 alongside the £1bn MIX MANCHESTER development zone, for which a strategic regeneration framework has been approved to bring forward up to 2 million sq ft of advanced manufacturing space, R&D labs and office space as well as hotels, leisure facilities and public areas. John Hughes continues: “The South Manchester market is under supplied, particularly in the small to mid-sized sector of the logistics market. These new facilities will deliver much-needed space to complement the tech and R&D spaces being developed at MIX MANCHESTER.” Ask will undertake a public consultation on its plans this autumn and aims to submit a planning application for the proposed development in Q4, with an aim to start on site next year and deliver by summer 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Clowes Developments has received reserved matters planning consent from Ashfield District Council to deliver over 500,000 sq ft of new commercial and industrial space at Harrier Park, Hucknall. The milestone approval paves the way for the development of six high-quality commercial/industrial units ranging in size from 60,000 sq ft (5,574 sq m) to 206,000 sq ft (19,138 sq m). The units will be delivered across two plots within the 31-acre site, which is currently undergoing remediation and preparatory works to ready the former brownfield land for its transformative redevelopment. The planning consent follows Clowes’ successful acquisition of the historic Harrier Park site in 2024 and the recent launch of the comprehensive, multi-million-pound enabling groundworks programme. Located on the former Rolls-Royce aerospace site, Harrier Park represents one of the most significant regeneration opportunities in Nottinghamshire. The new development will support local economic growth and job creation, bringing prime industrial and logistics space to a high-demand regional market. Clowes Developments is now well-positioned to commence delivery of the newly approved units at Harrier Park. The development is designed to accommodate a diverse range of occupiers, including those in the manufacturing, logistics, and distribution sectors. Kevin Webster, Associate Director at Clowes Developments, commented:“ Securing planning permission is a significant step forward for Harrier Park. We’re transforming a landmark site into a vibrant commercial hub that will deliver lasting economic benefits to Hucknall and the wider Ashfield area. With enabling works already underway, we are committed to progressing the scheme at pace and attracting top-tier occupiers to the development.” Harrier Park is strategically located with excellent connectivity to the M1 and East Midlands Airport. It lies outside the Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy zone and benefits from an established tram network, with a terminus located close by. These advantages make Harrier Park an ideal location for businesses looking to establish or expand their operations in the Midlands. Uniquely, Clowes Developments has also secured a total of 8.1 MVA of power for the site. This substantial capacity will be allocated based on end user requirements, offering a significant power supply for occupiers with high energy demands. Clowes Developments will continue to work closely with Ashfield District Council and other stakeholders as the scheme progresses, with further announcements expected in the coming months. Clowes Developments are working in partnership with FHP Property Consultants and Fisher German to market the site with units available from 60,000 to 206,000sq ft. Opportunities are available on both a freehold and leasehold design-and-build basis. For enquiries, please contact Tim Gilbertson on tim@fhp.co.uk or Rob Champion on rob.champion@fishergerman.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developer Chancerygate and specialist sustainable and impact investor Bridges Fund Management have sold Harlequin Business Park in Hayes, West London, to property investment firm Ableprop. Harlequin Business Park is a 90,000 sq ft sustainable urban logistics development, comprising nine leasehold Grade A units ranging from 5,100 sq ft to 39,700 sq ft. The scheme achieved practical completion in early August this year. All values relating to the transaction are undisclosed. Situated on Southall Lane, in an established industrial location near the Beaver Industrial Estate, International Trading Estate and Western International Market, the scheme benefits from excellent road connectivity with junction three of the M4 motorway less than one mile away and four miles from the A40. The development features electric vehicle charging points with the ability to add more based on future requirements. In addition, all properties feature air-source heat pumps and solar panels on their roofs which provide affordable green energy to run the buildings. The units are also constructed from high-performance insulative materials with controlled air tightness which reduces CO2 emissions and increases energy efficiency. These features have enabled the scheme to achieve an EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent rating and will support it being a net zero carbon for regulated energy scheme. Chancerygate development director, Tom Faulkner, said: “Harlequin Business Park will meet the growing demand from occupiers in the West and Greater London area for flexibly sized, high specification accommodation with strong sustainability credentials. “Its strategic positioning near established industrial locations and key infrastructure connectivity enables occupiers to serve markets easily throughout the locality and the wider South East region. “The sale of Harlequin Business Park to Ableprop also evidences how our product’s characteristics and strategic positioning is attractive to both investors and occupiers.” Founded in 1995, Chancerygate is the UK’s largest urban logistics property developer and investment manager and the only one operating nationwide. The company currently has more than 1.41m sq ft of industrial space under construction or ready for development across 11 sites ranging from Edinburgh to Croydon. Bridges is a specialist sustainable and impact investor. Its property funds focus on sectors that support the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive economy, including healthcare, housing and sustainable logistics. Henry Pepper, partner at Bridges, said: “The sale of Harlequin Business Park reflects the strong demand for best-in-class, sustainable industrial units that can help occupiers reduce costs and cut emissions. “This EPC A+, BREEAM Excellent development, with its outstanding low-carbon design and environmental performance, is another great example of Bridges and Chancerygate’s ability to identify great sites and deliver best-in-class developments that are attractive to occupiers and onward investors.” For more information visit www.chancerygate.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Winvic Construction has begun work on a 250,000 sq ft warehouse development at Coton Park in Rugby for Newlands Developments, deploying innovative enabling works to tackle complex site conditions. The 60-week programme marks Winvic’s return to Coton Park, where the contractor previously delivered two units on plots 2 and 3. This prior experience of the site’s infrastructure is expected to play a key role in the successful delivery of the latest phase. The single-storey facility will incorporate 15,000 sq ft of office space and will be built using a structural steel, multi-span portal frame, with a clear internal height of 15 metres. It is targeting a BREEAM Excellent certification and an EPC rating of A/A+, underlining its sustainability credentials. One of the most significant enabling works undertaken so far has been the installation of a 34-metre ex-Ministry of Defence tank bridge to span a 457mm high-pressure gas main. The 350-tonne crane lift was a critical step in providing safe access to the development site. To further mitigate the risks posed by the gas infrastructure, Winvic is also constructing a Filcor (polystyrene) road to wrap around a 54-metre-long culvert measuring 4m by 2m. Traditional construction techniques such as cement and compacted fill were deemed unsuitable, as the imposed loads would have compromised the gas main. Winvic is working closely with Cadent Gas to ensure that the solutions not only protect the integrity of the utility but also safeguard operatives during construction. Danny Nelson, managing director of industrial, distribution and logistics at Winvic, commented:“Working with partners, our solution to overcome the complex challenges of this site brought by the gas main highlights our commitment to safety and a collaborative culture.” The project reflects both the scale and complexity of modern warehouse development, where careful planning, innovative engineering and collaboration with infrastructure stakeholders are essential to delivering facilities that meet occupier and sustainability demands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has commenced works on a new state-of-the-art warehouse facility at Coton Park in Rugby, celebrating with an official groundbreaking ceremony. On behalf of Newlands Developments, Winvic has started the 60-week build programme to deliver a 250,000 sq ft single-storey warehouse at the strategically located industrial park, which sits within the UK Golden Triangle of logistics. This project sees Winvic’s return to Coton Park, where the company previously delivered two distribution and logistics units on plots 2 and 3, bringing existing knowledge of the site’s infrastructure to support the successful delivery of the latest phase. The new facility will include 15,000 sq ft of office accommodation and will consist of a structural steel, multi-span portal frame with a height of 15 metres and will target a BREEAM Excellent certification and an EPC rating of A/A+. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by representatives from Winvic and Newlands Developments marked a key milestone and highlighted Winvic’s agility and capability in overcoming complex site challenges early in the programme. As part of the infrastructure and enabling works, Winvic used a 350-tonne crane to install a 34-metre ex Ministry of Defence tank bridge, to span a 457 mm high-pressure gas main. This was a critical element of the works to enable access onto the site which requires crossing the major utility. To further progress works, Winvic is constructing a Filcor (polystyrene) road that will wrap around a 54-metre-long 4m x 2m culvert. Traditional construction methods such as cement and compacted fill were not viable due to the loadings imposed onto the gas main. Winvic and Cadent Gas are working together to develop and implement this solution to ensure the integrity of the gas infrastructure and safety of operatives working on site. Danny Nelson, Managing Director of Industrial, Distribution and Logistics at Winvic, said: “We’re proud to continue our partnership with Newlands Developments to deliver this at Coton Park, Rugby. “Working with partners, our solution to overcome the complex challenges of this site brought by the gas main, highlights our commitment to safety and a collaborative culture. Marking the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony is always a proud moment, and we now look forward to delivering a high-quality facility that meets our client’s needs and supports continued growth in this key logistics location.” Coton Park is located 3.7 miles from junction 19 of the M1 and fronts the M6, giving direct connectivity to Coventry and Birmingham and other major routes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Harworth Group plc, a leading land and property regenerator of sustainable developments, and Broxtowe Borough Council are pleased to announce the commencement of construction of 13,680 sq ft of Industrial & Logistics (‘I&L’) employment space designed for start-ups and SMEs. The development, at Bennerley in Nottinghamshire, is funded by Kimberley Means Business, a funding facility from the UK Government1. Harworth will deliver five I&L units across two buildings, on behalf of Broxtowe Borough Council, under a forward funding agreement. The appointed design and build contractor is Britcon. The occasion was marked at a recent groundbreaking ceremony, attended by members of the Harworth team alongside members and officers of Broxtowe Borough Council and Kimberley Town Council. The project received planning permission in February 2025, and the buildings are due to complete in 2026, with BREEAM ‘Very Good’ accreditation and will meet the Council’s Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. Additional amenities will include the creation of a new access road, serving both the employment scheme and Friends of Bennerley Viaduct Visitor Centre, alongside landscaping to improve connectivity for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from Shilo Way into the site. The employment units form part of the wider transformation of the former Bennerley Coal Disposal Point and surrounding land, with the potential to deliver up to 1.8 million sq ft of employment space, when complete, creating around 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs once fully operational. Stuart Ashton, Head of Strategic Planning at Harworth Group, commented: “The creation of these five units will provide much needed employment space for start-ups and SMEs, supporting early-stage business growth in the area. This marks an important milestone in the transformation of Bennerley, with our vision for the wider site focused around creating space that supports local employment opportunities and economic growth, whilst also benefiting the local environment. We look forward to continuing to develop our plans for the site in the months ahead.” Councillor Milan Radulovic MBE, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Asset Management, added: “I’m delighted to be able to get construction underway for these new business units as part of the Kimberley Means Business project. Providing spaces for local start-ups to establish themselves, and existing SMEs to grow and develop, the units will help to drive economic growth in the area. Together with the new Bennerley Viaduct Visitor Centre, due to be completed in September, these new developments will create a new economic hub in the north of the Borough.” Matt Searston, Commercial Director at Britcon, added: “We are excited to have been awarded this contract and to be starting construction of this project at the Bennerley development, continuing our successful collaborative relationship with Harworth Group. This important strategic site presents a fantastic opportunity to deliver high-quality, sustainable employment space that will support long-term local employment and economic growth. Our focus is always on maximising opportunities for local employment and regional suppliers. We look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to bring this important development to life.” For more information on our vision for Bennerley, please visit: https://www.bennerleyemployment.co.uk/  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Clowes Developments has begun a multi-million-pound site remediation and enabling works programme at its recently acquired 31-acre Harrier Park site in Hucknall, paving the way for new industrial and warehouse development. The brownfield site, once home to the creation of the Harrier ‘Jump Jet’ and Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, is set to be transformed into a major commercial hub. The clean-up will tackle legacy contamination, preparing the land for up to 500,000 sq ft of modern employment space alongside the existing 200,000 sq ft RM Resources facility. Lead contractor TanRo has been appointed to deliver the complex works, which include ground remediation, groundwater treatment, earthworks, construction of retaining walls, drainage infrastructure, and road access improvements. The programme will run beyond an initial 20-week schedule, forming the first phase of long-term investment into the site. Although planning permission is already in place for six industrial and warehouse buildings, environmental remediation is essential before development can progress. The site’s strategic location, close to junctions 26 and 27 of the M1 and within half an hour of East Midlands Airport, Derby and Nottingham, makes it a prime choice for occupiers seeking new space in the region. Kevin Webster, Associate Development Director at Clowes Developments, said:“Harrier Park is a special site with a remarkable heritage, and we’re proud to be bringing it back into productive use. Our first major step is to address its long-standing issues with contamination. Our enabling works are designed to prepare the land for high-quality industrial development, and interest is already strong from potential occupiers looking for bespoke space in a well-connected location.” Clowes Developments is working with FHP Property Consultants and Fisher German to market the site, with design-and-build opportunities available on both freehold and leasehold terms for units ranging from 60,000 to 206,000 sq ft. For enquiries, please contact: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Prologis has been selected to deliver a build-to-suit National Distribution Centre for Marks & Spencer at DIRFT — a flagship development that will support the transformation of the retailer’s food logistics network while showcasing Prologis’ expertise in designing and delivering highly complex logistics facilities. Spanning 1.3 million square feet, the facility represents a £340 million investment — the largest in M&S’s food supply chain history — and forms a key part of the company’s strategy to double the size of its food business. The construction phase is expected to support over 2,000 jobs, with around 1,000 roles once operational — covering logistics, management, and technical engineering. The development combines chilled storage, advanced automated fulfilment, returns and recycling operations, and dedicated office space — all tailored to M&S’s operational requirements and growth ambitions. TGW Logistics has been appointed as the automation partner for the project. Located at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, the campus will be fully electric and designed to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating — an internationally recognised benchmark for sustainable building performance. Proven Build-to-Suit Expertise With decades of experience in land acquisition, site selection, permitting, construction and delivery, Prologis is uniquely positioned to manage complex, large-scale projects like this one. Its in-house teams streamline the process from design through delivery, ensuring maximized value engineering, accelerated timelines and reliable technical expertise at every step. By partnering with industry-leading architects, consultants and contractors, Prologis consistently delivers facilities on or ahead of schedule. Paul Weston, Regional Head at Prologis UK, said: “M&S selected Prologis for our experience in delivering complex large-scale logistics projects designed to meet the highest environmental standards. This development enables a future-fit supply chain for M&S and brings lasting economic value to the Midlands — through skilled jobs, resilient infrastructure and investment in one of the UK’s most important logistics locations.” DIRFT: A Key Driver of Regional Growth This latest milestone takes Prologis’ leased or committed space at DIRFT III to over 75%, reinforcing the site’s role as one of the UK’s most mature intermodal logistics hubs. Currently, more than 10,000 people are employed across DIRFT in a growing range of logistics, operations, and technical roles. In 2023/24 alone, customers at DIRFT contributed £13.1 million in business rates. The site generates £219 million in annual GVA, making it one of the region’s most important economic assets. Cllr Mark Arnull, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said: “This investment is a strong signal of continued confidence in West Northamptonshire and wider South Midlands region as a centre of national and European logistics. As the UK’s largest inland port, DIRFT plays a critical role in supporting jobs, attracting business, and driving economic growth across the backbone of the UK. We look forward to working with all stakeholders on the long-term future of the site as it continues to evolve.” Setting New Standards for Sustainable Logistics On completion, the new M&S facility is expected to be the largest building in the world to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification and is also targeting EPC A+. On-site features include a large-scale rooftop PV array, EV charging, energy-saving technologies, and extensive use of recycled materials — demonstrating how Prologis build-to-suit developments combine technical excellence with sustainable innovation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Britain’s warehouse and logistics sector is facing a decade-defining challenge, as new analysis warns that defence spending will create unprecedented demand for additional storage and distribution capacity across the country. According to research from Savills, the UK will require up to three million sq m of new warehouse space by 2032 to support the expansion of the nation’s defence manufacturing base. The figure, equivalent to more than 400 football pitches, highlights the scale of demand expected as government investment flows into the sector. The forecast follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s commitment to increase the UK’s annual defence budget by £40 billion by 2035. Major contractors such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce are preparing to expand operations to deliver on both domestic and allied commitments, creating a ripple effect through the wider warehouse and logistics market. To meet demand, the UK would need to deliver an average of 429,000 sq m of additional warehouse space every year until 2032. This comes on top of the long-term annual average of 650,000 sq m, placing the sector under significant pressure at a time when development is already constrained by high construction costs, expensive financing, and limited land availability. Prime warehouse rents are already on the rise, particularly in the South East. Around the M25, rents have nearly doubled since 2019, climbing from £215 per sq m to £398 per sq m in 2025. Analysts warn that defence sector expansion, combined with sustained e-commerce growth and reshoring strategies, could push rents higher still, placing further strain on occupiers across multiple industries. Andrew Blennerhassett, associate director in Savills’ industrial and logistics research team, commented: “Defence investment has the potential to reshape the UK warehouse market in a very short period of time. Policymakers must ensure land supply and planning approvals keep pace with demand. Otherwise, capacity constraints will quickly become a brake on both industrial output and national resilience.” The UK warehouse market has already seen major structural shifts since the pandemic, as manufacturers, retailers and distributors moved to secure greater domestic capacity. Defence now represents an additional layer of demand, with contractors and their supply chains expected to require new-build facilities, large-scale storage hubs, and modernised logistics parks. Developers and investors are responding. Sirius Real Estate, which holds more than £2 billion of warehouse assets in the UK and Germany, has brought in a former British Army major general as a strategic adviser to help capture opportunities created by the expansion of the defence sector. Andrew Coombs, chief executive of Sirius and a former Grenadier Guards officer, said: “Defence has the potential to become one of the most important drivers of demand for warehouse and logistics space over the next decade. These requirements will not only focus on capacity but also on quality, with an emphasis on resilience, efficiency and futureproofing. For landlords, the fact that much of this demand is ultimately government-backed adds a unique level of stability.” The scale of investment expected from defence contractors is likely to reshape warehouse development patterns across the UK. Regions with established defence and aerospace industries, including the North West, South West and Midlands, are forecast to see the strongest uplift in demand, with ripple effects across national distribution networks. However, analysts caution that unless the UK overcomes persistent barriers around planning and land availability, the challenge of creating sufficient warehouse capacity could become acute. With occupier expectations increasingly centred on ESG standards, energy efficiency and connectivity, there is also pressure on developers to deliver facilities that meet the sustainability benchmarks now standard in other sectors. For warehouse and logistics operators, the convergence of defence spending, e-commerce demand and reshoring strategies is set to drive sustained competition for prime space. As the market prepares for what could be a transformative decade, the role of the warehouse sector in underpinning both economic growth and national security is likely to become more visible than ever before. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals