Commercial : Industrial News

Frasers Property appoints Glencar to construct new 117,000 sq ft speculative scheme at Blythe Valley Park.

The development will see the construction of three high specification industrial/logistics units of 25,000, 42,000 and 50,000 sq ft. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by leading multinational real estate and property management

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Panattoni Lets Space to iForce and Hotel Chocolat

Panattoni Lets Space to iForce and Hotel Chocolat

Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, has fully let its 1.7 million sq ft logistics park in Northampton after signing lease agreements for the last two units with iForce and Hotel Chocolat. iForce, the UK’s fastest growing e-fulfilment, carriage management and returns recovery provider, has signed a

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Panattoni Acquires Logistics Site to Serve New Markets

Panattoni Acquires Logistics Site to Serve New Markets

Panattoni, the largest industrial real estate developer in Europe, has acquired a 22-acre site in an established industrial location in West Sussex for a last-mile logistics development.  The site, called Panattoni Park Burgess Hill, is located at Burgess Hill, fronting the A2300 dual carriageway and providing fast access to the

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Forrest Park developers back Aycliffe’s Make Your Mark awards

The developers of one of the biggest new industrial developments in the region are showing their commitment to the local community by backing an awards event. Richardson Barberry, the team behind the huge Forrest Park development at Aycliffe Business Park, has joined the growing list of high-profile names to back

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New laboratories to spur growth in energy security solutions

Nuclear AMRC Midlands is set to lead dynamic supply chain developments in high value UK manufacturing Work on a transformative £15m nuclear research facility in Infinity Park Derby (IPD) is now underway, which will advance manufacturing capabilities in sustainable energy using pioneering technologies. The 46,728 sq. ft research centre, Nuclear

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AIPUT marks completion of its second state-of-the-art air cargo warehouse at dnata City East

High-tech 117,000 sqft warehouse further strengthens west London’s connectivity and capability abrdn’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) has today announced the completion of the second and final phase of construction of its state-of-the-art dnata City East warehouse campus, located opposite Heathrow’s Cargo Terminal. The completed 360,000 sq ft

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Graftongate starts work on new Gloucester Scheme

Graftongate has started work on the construction of a £10m Gloucester development. Gloucester 12 sits adjacent to junction 12 of the M5 motorway. It already incorporates a 120,000 sq ft warehouse unit sold to International Plywood. A further four units are being developed and will comprise 17,516 sq ft, 26,465

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Barberry starts on £9 million warehouse development

Construction has started at a £9 million speculative warehouse development in the West Midlands, leading commercial property developer Barberry Industrial announced today. Main contractor A&H Construction has started work on a 3.5-acre site at Well Lane, Wolverhampton, where Barberry will deliver a 55,575 sq ft unit. Barberry acquired the site

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Latest Issue
Issue 335 : Dec 2025

Commercial : Industrial News

Frasers Property appoints Glencar to construct new 117,000 sq ft speculative scheme at Blythe Valley Park.

The development will see the construction of three high specification industrial/logistics units of 25,000, 42,000 and 50,000 sq ft. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by leading multinational real estate and property management company Frasers Property to develop three speculative new industrial units of 25,000, 42,000 and 50,000 sq ft at Blythe Valley Park in Solihull. The development being marketed as Connexion II sits in a prominent location close to the main entrance to Blythe Valley Park and only 2 minutes from J4 of the M42. Blythe Valley Park is the premier business park in the West Midlands region, accommodating a wide range of occupiers in prime office, R&D, industrial and logistics space. All three units will be developed to a high-quality sustainable specification, targeting BREEAM Excellent accreditation and an EPC Rating of A. The development is due for completion by the end of 2022. Speaking about the appointment Pete Goodman, Glencar Managing Director Midlands and North said: “Blythe Valley Park is widely considered to be the premier business park in the West Midlands and a thriving business community.  Glencar are extremely proud and pleased to have been appointed by Frasers Property to construct this important next phase of development on the park within the heart of the Midlands growth engine. This new campus of high specification industrial units will provide occupiers with much needed new space and an exceptional place to work, with units benefiting from a cutting-edge design and sustainable specification set with 122 acres of beautiful parkland. This is the first instruction Glencar has received from Frasers Property and we look forward to working closely together, forging a strong partnership and seeing the units rise from the ground as construction progresses.” Blythe Valley Park is a 663,000 sq ft mixed use business park located in Solihull, near Birmingham offering versatile office and high-quality industrial space set in 122 acres of beautiful parkland. Strategically situated at the hub of the UK’s motorway system, Blythe Valley Park offers the very best access on a national and local scale. The park is a thriving business community of over 25 businesses employing more than 3,500 people with wellbeing at its heart. For further information visit: https://connexionsolihull.co.uk/.

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Panattoni Lets Space to iForce and Hotel Chocolat

Panattoni Lets Space to iForce and Hotel Chocolat

Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, has fully let its 1.7 million sq ft logistics park in Northampton after signing lease agreements for the last two units with iForce and Hotel Chocolat. iForce, the UK’s fastest growing e-fulfilment, carriage management and returns recovery provider, has signed a 10-year lease for a 376,915 sq ft facility at at Panattoni Park Northampton and Hotel Chocolat, the premium British chocolatier and cacao grower, has signed a 10-year lease for a 429,107 sq ft facility.  These two lettings follow that to 4PX Express, the global logistics company, which signed a 15-year lease for a 250,000 sq ft facility in November last year, and the success of the first phase of 625,000 sq ft, which was pre-let to Eddie Stobart Logistics, owned by Culina Group.  All three buildings in the second phase were speculatively developed to a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and an EPC ‘A’ rating. Northampton sits in the ‘logistics golden triangle’, long regarded as the UK’s most strategically important location for distribution. Located at junction 16 of the M1, Panattoni Park Northampton is only 20 miles from the M6 and A14. Oliver Bertram, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “Letting over 1 million sq ft to three different companies in just five months reflects the importance of Northampton as a logistics location and the attraction of the park to occupiers. “We are experiencing high occupier demand for immediately available logistics space, which justifies our commitment to a major speculative development programme in the UK”. Paul Thirkell, managing director of iForce, said: “iForce is absolutely delighted to have secured a new facility at Panattoni Park Northampton, which will help to facilitate the significant growth the business is experiencing. The location is of strategic importance within our network and located next to three other Culina Group warehouses, creating significant synergies across the group companies”. Letting agents for Panattoni were Savills and Burbage Realty. iForce was advised by Roebuck and Hotel Chocolat was advised by Bidwells. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News

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Panattoni Acquires Logistics Site to Serve New Markets

Panattoni Acquires Logistics Site to Serve New Markets

Panattoni, the largest industrial real estate developer in Europe, has acquired a 22-acre site in an established industrial location in West Sussex for a last-mile logistics development.  The site, called Panattoni Park Burgess Hill, is located at Burgess Hill, fronting the A2300 dual carriageway and providing fast access to the A23/M23, Crawley, Brighton and the south coast markets. It is already home to DPD and Roche. Panattoni is intending to speculatively develop the rest of the site with facilities from 7,466 sq ft to 141,460 sq ft, although it is in discussions with a number of occupiers already showing interest in bespoke units. Panattoni expects to start construction in the fourth quarter of this year with the intention of delivering units to a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ and an EPC rating of ‘A’ in the middle of 2023. It will take advantage of the site’s outline planning consent to build the units quickly, offering opportunities for both B2 and B8 occupiers. Panattoni’s vast experience of buy, build and let was recently demonstrated at the former Benthalls site in Farnborough, which it bought, built and let in just 11 months.  Tony Watkins, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “This well-located site provides us with the opportunity to meet the high occupier demand for logistics space in the Crawley, Brighton and south coast markets, where the supply of available space is very low. We will be offering a wide range of unit sizes to occupiers in an area where there is a critical lack of stock to serve such a big market of consumers”. Letting agents are DTRE, Lambert Smith Hampton and SHW. Panattoni was founded in the USA in 1986 and has grown to become the world’s largest privately-owned industrial developer. Panattoni has served over 2,500 customers worldwide and developed more than 525 million sq ft of logistics space. In the United Kingdom, Panattoni has positioned itself as the largest speculative developer, committing to speculatively develop over 3 million sq ft annually. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News

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Forrest Park developers back Aycliffe’s Make Your Mark awards

The developers of one of the biggest new industrial developments in the region are showing their commitment to the local community by backing an awards event. Richardson Barberry, the team behind the huge Forrest Park development at Aycliffe Business Park, has joined the growing list of high-profile names to back Aycliffe Business Park’s Make Your Mark awards, in association with Husqvarna. The glamorous awards ceremony – organised by Aycliffe Business Park Community (ABPC) – will be held at the stunning Redworth Hall Hotel on Friday, May 20. Richardson Barberry are backing the awards by sponsoring the Engineering and Manufacturing award – joining headline sponsors Husqvarna and category sponsors Gestamp, Stiller, Ebac, Business Durham, Think Kudos and Jacksons Law Firm. Barberry industrial development director and shareholder Jon Robinson said: “It’s great to see the return of the Make Your Mark awards after what has been a highly challenging couple of years for many companies. “Everyone at Richardson Barberry is delighted to be able to support such a prestigious event which celebrates some of the exceptional achievements of people and companies at Aycliffe Business Park. “Together with our joint venture partners Richardson, we are excited at the prospect of adding to the success of Aycliffe Business Park by delivering new industrial and logistics units at Forrest Park. “Situated on a 116-acre site, it will be one of the North-East’s premier business parks, stimulating economic growth by an estimated half a billion pounds in the next 10 years and creating over 3,000 jobs for the region. “We are submitting our reserved matters planning application in April 2022 for our phase one scheme comprising of c: 780,000 sq ft over eight buildings and are talking to local, national and international occupiers who have expressed interest in taking some of the 1.8 million sq ft of industrial space available at Forrest Park. “They are attracted by the fact that it is a serviced and consented site, in a first class business location on a motorway junction, with access to an excellent, skilled labour demographic. “Companies moving to Forrest Park will also benefit from becoming part of the vibrant and highly successful Aycliffe Business Park community. “We are looking forward to joining everyone at the awards and celebrating the hard work, innovation, investment and successes of those businesses that have been shortlisted.” ABPC board director Thomas Prentice, who’s business development manager at Stiller, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Richardson Barberry on board with the Make Your Mark awards. “The Forrest Park site is a hugely exciting development for Aycliffe Business Park and it’s fantastic to see its developers not only engaging with the business park so positively, but also embracing these awards, which are so important.”

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New laboratories to spur growth in energy security solutions

Nuclear AMRC Midlands is set to lead dynamic supply chain developments in high value UK manufacturing Work on a transformative £15m nuclear research facility in Infinity Park Derby (IPD) is now underway, which will advance manufacturing capabilities in sustainable energy using pioneering technologies. The 46,728 sq. ft research centre, Nuclear AMRC Midlands, scheduled for completion by early 2023, next to Rolls-Royce and within 20 minutes’ drive of global manufacturers Toyota, Alstom and JCB, is preparing to support companies of all sizes to join carbon neutral supply chains ahead of the global race to achieve net zero by 2050. With energy prices now at record levels, Nuclear AMRC Midlands will help to guide the manufacturing industry towards critical energy transitions to facilitate growth in a carbon neutral economy. Development of the new Nuclear AMRC facility follows a successful pilot programme at Infinity Park’s Connect iHub, joined by the University of Derby, now home to fifteen engineers and support staff. The new research site will support 35 collaborative research and development projects, including high value sectors such as aerospace, automotive and rail within the first five years. Professor Warren Manning, Provost – Innovation and Research at the University of Derby, said: “Co-locating the Institute of Innovation in Sustainable Engineering with the Nuclear AMRC will enable us to share resources and expertise and open up new opportunities for our academics to support whole business sectors to become greener, more efficient, more competitive and ultimately help drive the recovery and future prosperity of our city and region.” The Government-backed IPD collaboration, with the University of Derby, Derby City Council, Wilson Bowden, Peveril Securities, Harpur Crewe Estate and Rolls-Royce, with over £9m from D2N2, will accelerate technological innovations uniting skills, markets, and demand with clean energy. Andrew Storer, CEO, Nuclear AMRC said: “As the first High Value Manufacturing Catapult facility in the East Midlands, we will continue to work closely with local industry, academic and government partners to deliver sustainable growth for decades to come. The coming years will see increasing investment into clean energy and low-carbon technologies, and the region is well placed to capitalise on the opportunity thanks to its wealth of experience, innovation and engineering expertise. We have already helped dozens of Midlands-based manufacturers to develop their capabilities for the nuclear sector and want to work with even more to support their ambitions across other growing low-carbon sectors.” Mark Bielby, of March Developments, development managers for IPD LLP said: “Nuclear AMRC is a beacon of excellence and its involvement at Infinity Park Derby is projected to add £71m to the local economy over five years. The shift to carbon neutral technologies is now an obvious priority for industry and with the help of our construction partner Stepnell we will deliver a sustainably designed building, which will lead by example.”

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AIPUT marks completion of its second state-of-the-art air cargo warehouse at dnata City East

High-tech 117,000 sqft warehouse further strengthens west London’s connectivity and capability abrdn’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) has today announced the completion of the second and final phase of construction of its state-of-the-art dnata City East warehouse campus, located opposite Heathrow’s Cargo Terminal. The completed 360,000 sq ft warehouse campus significantly strengthens the nation’s critical logistics infrastructure, ensuring high value time-critical products are moved more quickly, safely and sustainably from this gateway location.   Each phase of dnata City East has been specifically designed to meet the operational requirements of dnata, the largest independent cargo-handler serving Heathrow.  The campus represents both the largest off-airport cargo handling operation at Heathrow Airport and one of the largest pre-lets in west London.   The earlier 242,000 sq ft warehouse building – also built by AIPUT and pre-let to dnata – has been operational since late 2019, handling import and export throughput for Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo at Heathrow. Occupier demand for the very best sustainable industrial space in gateway locations throughout Greater London has accellerated throughout 2021 and early 2022, driven by the Covid recovery but also in response to Brexit and global supply chain issues.  West London is virtually fully occupied, with vacancy levels of Grade A industrial space in this area at historic low levels of less than 3%. The lead contractor for the Phase 2 warehouse was specialist industrial and logistics constructor, McLaren Group, reporting to project manager, Avison Young. Throughout its design and construction, the building has incorporated the latest carbon reduction techniques, helping to future-proof both the operational and commercial value of the asset and to positively benefit the environment, local communities and the heath and wellbeing of dnata’s staff.  Recycled and low-carbon materials have been widely used, together with the installation of solar PV panels, air-source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points. This specification has already set new quality standards in the area, as well as achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental rating.   /cont: Edward Amery, Head of UK Logistics at abrdn, commented: “The completion of AIPUT’s dnata City East marks the culmination of a four-year project to deliver a significant milestone in our strategy to drive the growth of AIPUT’s market-leading portfolio of prime industrial assets. dnata City East sets a new quality benchmark for industrial property investment, representing one of the UK’s very best critical logistics infrastructure assets. “We are proud that this new ‘centre of excellence’ will play a vital, long-term role in strengthening the UK’s supply chain resilience and make a positive impact at a local level for the environment and for communities.”       Alex Doisneau, Managing Director, dnata (UK) Limited, commented: “The completion of Phase II of dnata City East marks a major step forward in our successful ongoing relationship with AIPUT, which has delivered a world-leading air cargo warehouse destination at the UK’s premier gateway airport. “These two new state-of-the-art facilities serve to support and enhance our customer and operational needs in a constantly changing environment.” 

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Panattoni increases speculative programme with 417,570 sq ft scheme at Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Panattoni, the largest industrial real estate developer in Europe, is planning to develop one of the largest speculative logistics facilities in South Yorkshire. The development, called Panattoni Doncaster 420, will be a 417,570 sq ft facility at GatewayEast, Doncaster Sheffield Airport.  Panattoni has acquired the 18.4-acre site, which has outline planning consent, from Peel Land and Property. Panattoni Doncaster 420 benefits from superb multi-modal links, located within six minutes of rail facilities at iPort, while the seaports of Immingham and Hull are both approximately 50 miles from the site. It also provides last-mile access to the major conurbations of Yorkshire and Humberside and the major consumer and manufacturing centres of the North East, North West and East Midlands, plus central London, all fall within 4.5 hours by HGV. Panattoni expects to start construction later this year with the intention of delivering the facility in Summer 2023. Panattoni Doncaster 420 is targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings. Occupiers will also benefit from a range of standard sustainability features and green build options. The development is part of Panattoni’s commitment to a significant speculative development programme in the UK in 2022 in response to strong demand from occupiers for immediately available space. Dan Burn, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “This well-located site with direct access to local, regional and global markets is a superb addition to our speculative development programme. South Yorkshire is rapidly forging a reputation as one of the UK’s prime distribution locations. Record take up across Yorkshire in 2021 has resulted in the supply of units over 100,000 sq ft dipping to the lowest level ever seen”. Burbage Realty acted for Panattoni.

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Stoford and Church Commissioners sign new site wide agreement at Exeter Logistics Park

Leading commercial property developer, Stoford has announced a new site wide agreement with the Church Commissioners for England that will unlock future phases of development at a job creating industrial scheme in East Devon. The agreement paves the way for the development of an additional c.500,000 sq ft of industrial/logistics accommodation at Exeter Logistics Park, Clyst Honiton.   Stoford will develop the scheme on a design and build basis, with new units made available on freehold or leasehold terms.   Exeter Logistics Park is part of the second phase of a significant industrial scheme which was opened in 2017, following the grant of outline planning, secured by the Church Commissioners.   Part of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point economic development zone east of the M5, near Exeter Airport, the scheme will total more than 650,000 sq ft upon completion and includes improvements to the local transport infrastructure. A new access road and signalised traffic junction have been created off the B3174 London Road, making the site immediately available for further development.   Stoford has already completed construction of a new 90,000 sq ft distribution unit and a 415-space electric vehicle charging park at Exeter Logistics Park, on behalf of an international retailer.   Works are also underway on the construction of a further two new buildings, including DHL’s 54,732 sq ft parcel distribution service centre and a 28,464 sq ft warehouse that is being developed speculatively.   The new developments are characterised by strong environmental credentials, including green roof spaces, a sustainable urban drainage system, provision of solar panels and an external trim trail with outdoor gym and fitness area. They are expected to be completed this month (March 2022) and have the potential to create more than 100 new jobs.   It is estimated that Exeter Logistics Park could contribute between £90 million – £105 million to the regional economy when fully complete. Dan Gallagher, Joint Managing Director, Stoford said: “Exeter Logistics Park is an extremely well connected site with enormous potential. We are on track to deliver the two new buildings in Q1 this year and the new agreement will enable us to further develop the scheme to meet continued demand. This is a sustainable scheme that has already attracted high calibre, international occupiers. It has all of the attributes to become the South West’s leading distribution hub, south of Bristol.”   Joanna Loxton, Head of Strategic Land for the Church Commissioners for England, said: “The latest agreement builds on our already strong partnership with Stoford and will see hundreds of thousands of square feet of high-quality employment space being delivered, resulting in significant job creation locally and supporting the area’s continued growth. “We are particularly proud of Exeter Logistics Park’s sustainability credentials, which are a demonstration of our ESG commitments in action and will help support a ‘green recovery’ post-covid.”  All enquiries regarding Exeter Logistics Park should be directed to the scheme’s retained agents, JLL and Cushman & Wakefield.  

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Graftongate starts work on new Gloucester Scheme

Graftongate has started work on the construction of a £10m Gloucester development. Gloucester 12 sits adjacent to junction 12 of the M5 motorway. It already incorporates a 120,000 sq ft warehouse unit sold to International Plywood. A further four units are being developed and will comprise 17,516 sq ft, 26,465 sq ft, 38,227 sq ft and 41,288 sq ft of space, incorporating a high level of sustainability. Phil Silk, managing director of Graftongate, said: “This is the final phase of Gloucester 12, which will comprise four industrial/warehouse units totalling 123,500 sq ft. “Having recently completed the infrastructure works and secured planning permission we have decided to speculatively build these units given the strength of the market and having identified a lack of supply particularly of the sizes being built.” Myles Wilcox-Smith, partner at M1 agency and Edward Jenkinson, senior surveyor at Bruton Knowles, joint letting agents for the scheme, added: “These units are scheduled to be completed in November and will be constructed to a high standard, above institutional standards, to include 12m to underside of haunch for the largest unit with a substantial level of power available to the site.”

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Barberry starts on £9 million warehouse development

Construction has started at a £9 million speculative warehouse development in the West Midlands, leading commercial property developer Barberry Industrial announced today. Main contractor A&H Construction has started work on a 3.5-acre site at Well Lane, Wolverhampton, where Barberry will deliver a 55,575 sq ft unit. Barberry acquired the site from ASSA ABLOY for an undisclosed sum. Called Barberry 55, the development will be a highly specified Grade A building with 10-metre clear height eaves, 2,965 sq ft of internal offices, 45 car parking spaces and 50-metre yard depth, with dock and level access loading provision. It is expected to reach practical completion in Q3, 2022. It demonstrates Barberry’s continued investment in the region and will create significant job opportunities while helping to address the shortage of new industrial accommodation in the West Midlands. Jon Robinson, development director at West Midlands-based Barberry, said: “This start on site marks another great occasion in our quest to deliver another one of our market leading speculative developments comprising a new, Grade A industrial and logistics hub in Wolverhampton. “We believe our new building will create the much needed quality accommodation for local, regional and national businesses to expand their operations within the Midlands creating much needed new jobs. We have seen significant occupier demand for new industrial and warehouse units of this size and specification, and we expect there to be a great deal of interest in Barberry 55. “It perfectly complements the many other projects we have delivered within the region where we have delivered best in class, Grade A buildings. Our latest investment is expected to generate around 120 jobs, making a significant contribution to the local economy.” Kieren Turner-Owen, associate director property at Frontier Development Capital, said: “Demand for high quality industrial and logistics space continues to grow in the West Midlands. Barberry 55 will help address the shortage of Grade A industrial accommodation. We are delighted to be working with Barberry on another scheme that unlocks unused brownfield land and helps deliver economic growth to the region.” Robert Mottram, director, of A&H Construction, said: “We are delighted to have secured this construction tender and are very much looking forward to working with Barberry in delivering this project within the heart of Wolverhampton.” The site is situated in a prime urban location just four miles from J10 of the M6 via the A454, within 3.4 miles from J1 of the M54. It also benefits from its close proximity to links to the M6 Toll, M5, and M42. It is adjacent to the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Wednesfield Way, with Bentley Bridge Retail Park nearby hosting a number of market leading shops and restaurants. Other major occupiers nearby include Supersmart Services, Crown Workspace, Yodel, Euro Car Parts, Travis Perkins, Mercedes, Tool Station and Tata Steel. Jaguar Land Rover has an engine factory within five miles at i54. Barberry has a 3.6 million sq ft industrial/logistics development portfolio with a Gross Development Value of in excess of £500 million. It is developing a £40 million state-of-the-art manufacturing and design facility for a global leader in engine and flight controls systems in Gloucestershire. The 207,000 sq ft centre of excellence for Moog’s Aircraft Controls Segment is being built on a 10-acre site at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury. The company has also commenced speculative construction of three high quality mid-box manufacturing/logistics units totaling 222,750 sq ft at a prime West Midlands business park in a £37 million project. Barberry’s development includes industrial/logistics units of 47,750 sq ft, 62,000 sq ft and 113,000 sq ft at Wolf Pack, Hilton Cross Business Park, just off junction 1 of the M54, Wolverhampton.

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