Verdion has been chosen by bicycle manufacturer Derby Cycle as the developer for its new 32,230 sq m headquarters and plant which will expand the company’s presence in northern Germany. The new facility will be funded and developed under a venture between Verdion and Canadian pension fund Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP). It will be located on a 63,000 sq m plot in the Ecopark Emstek industrial estate and open its doors in 2022, offering state-of-the-art production facilities as well as an inspiring work environment with open offices and working spaces. Another highlight will be the new Kalkhoff brand world, where Germany’s leading e-bike brand will showcase new models directly at the factory with advice, test drives on a dedicated test track on site and information about the brand and history. The new building will provide 26,500 sq m of production and storage, 5,730 sq.m. of office and communal accommodation and 510 parking spaces. Verdion is targeting a DGNB Gold sustainability certification for the building on completion. It will link to Derby Cycle’s existing 25,000 sq.m. logistics facility on the adjacent plot, which Verdion completed in 2015. Work has recently started on site. André Banschus, Executive Director of Verdion, adds: “Even before COVID-19, bicycle manufacturers were looking for more ways to respond to demand. The global sustainability movement has accelerated green city infrastructure projects and sales have significantly increased in recent years. “We are pleased to be delivering a second project for Derby Cycle, not only demonstrating our development expertise in complex manufacturing, but working closely with our partners to put in place the funding and lease structures needed to help Derby Cycle exploit this opportunity for growth.” Ecopark Emstek is located directly on the A1 motorway linking the Baltic Sea to the French border near Saarbrücken via several North Sea ports as well as the Rhine Ruhr metropolitan area. The municipality of Emstek borders Cloppenburg, the county capital with over 35,000 inhabitants. It is located 60 kilometres south-west of the Hanseatic city of Bremen. Verdion and HOOPP regularly partner on the financing, development and management of specialist logistics and production facilities across Europe, with a portfolio of over €1.2 billion GAV created over the last seven years. On completion of the building, Verdion will continue to work with Derby Cycle as HOOPP’s asset manager. List Bau is the general contractor, Phase 5 the project architect.

Canmoor is delighted to welcome Agility Logistics, one of the world’s leading integrated logistics providers to Westway Park. Relocating to Renfrew from Linwood, Agility has agreed terms on 40,000 sq ft of warehousing and distribution space at Block D on a ten-year lease. The space will be used to service growing business contracts in Scotland and around the UK. Agility ships, stores and manages the distribution of goods for businesses of all sizes across a variety of sectors. Operating in 100 countries, it employs more than 26,000 people around the globe. The Renfrew facility is the only one in Scotland and will join a network of 16 strategic locations across the UK. Mick Humphries, Area North West Europe Transport & Warehouse Manager of Agility said: “Our business in the UK continues to develop and we were looking to expand the Scottish facility. Connectivity and communication links were key business requirements and Westway was able to deliver the perfect solution, along with top quality space, within a 24-hour secure environment. “We will undertake fit out works at Westway and become fully operational by April 2021. Toby Saul, Asset Manager of Canmoor added: “Westway continues to be one of the top performing industrial and logistics locations in Scotland. Securing Agility is yet another positive boost for the park, following on from recent lockdown deals with Malcolm Group and the NHS. “It is clear that our ongoing strategy of investment and improvement is proving popular with occupiers in the Scottish market. Since purchasing Westway in 2018, we have invested significantly into building refurbishment and park infrastructure. “Our programme of building refurbishment and investment in park infrastructure will continue with the £3,000,000 refurbishment of Block D which will provide 40,000 sq ft to be let to Agility and a further 60,000 sq ft of top quality refurbished distribution accommodation which will be available to let from April 2021.” Westway is a key strategic industrial and distribution location that offers excellent connectivity to the whole of Central Scotland, with Junction 27 of the M8 only 3 minutes drive away. It is located in the heart of the Glasgow Airport Investment area, which is one of the key City Deal projects that will benefit from £39.1m of inward investment over the next 10 years. This will deliver significant infrastructure investment to the area including a new two-lane bridge over the White Cart, directly linking Westway with the investment area and airport. Westway also benefits from having its own private dock facility on the White Cart Water which accesses the River Clyde. This provides an alternative shipping solution particularly for large products that are unsuitable for transport by road.  Canmoor’s joint agents are JLL and Colliers. Agility was represented by Doherty Baines.

Belgian logistics, real estate and motor-racing company Weerts Group has chosen Suffolk Park at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, for its first UK warehouse location and has secured just over 42-acres from developer JAYNIC for a new 870,000 sq ft logistics unit to be delivered by JAYNIC in summer 2021. This is the largest ever warehouse transaction to be undertaken in Bury St Edmunds and the West Suffolk region bringing major new investment and jobs to the region. The 870,000 sq ft logistics facility will be developed in two phases with a first phase of 476,000 sq ft to be completed in Summer 2021 and the second phase following immediately. A detailed planning application has just been submitted to West Suffolk Council. Weerts Group is renowned across Europe for its buildings where sustainability is an important feature. Weerts Group has chosen Suffolk Park because of its proximity to the Felixstowe ferry connection with the European continent and its proximity to Junction 45 of the A14 providing fast links into the UK motorway network. Ben Oughton, development director of JAYNIC, said: “This is a very significant deal for Suffolk Park, Suffolk and East Anglia. This transaction with Weerts Group comes swiftly on the heels of the sale of our SP206 unit to Chinese consumer goods importer M H Star and re-affirms the rapidly increasing popularity of the A14 as a logistics location. In under six months these two transactions amount to 1.1m sq ft of warehousing and the creation of around 700 jobs for the local economy,” Weerts Group is headquartered in Liège, Belgium and has operations in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Hungary and Romania. Its General Logistics Services division offers its clients comprehensive solutions for warehousing, transport and value-add logistics services, with a strong focus on innovative solutions and engaging in continuous improvement projects with its clients. In 2017, it significantly expanded its operations through the acquisition of the in-house logistics of the Audi manufacturing plant in Brussels (65,000 sqm), where it operates all in-house logistics activities for the Brussels plant and is actively involved in preparing for the construction of the first full electric vehicle of the Audi group. Cllr John Griffiths, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “We welcome this new investment and the creation of new jobs here in West Suffolk helping to deliver the vision that the Council worked so hard to achieve when it set out to create the Suffolk Business Park.” Richard Pyatt, a director of Hazells Chartered Surveyors, comments: “Acting on behalf of JAYNIC we were delighted to introduce Weerts Group to Suffolk Park and assist in the negotiations for this transaction. This is a stellar example of the increasing demand from major logistics companies who see Felixstowe and the A14 as an alternative to the Kent ports for their links to the European continent. Securing a major occupier of this nature represents a significant boost for the local economy in Bury St Edmunds and underlines Suffolk Park as the pre-eminent logistics park in the region.” Elsewhere at Suffolk Park the 112,000 sq ft first phase of Treatt Plc’s new global headquarters, being developed by Jaynic is due for completion imminently. The 114-acre Suffolk Park has outline planning consent for 2 million sq ft of business, distribution, and industrial space. Suffolk Park agents are Bury St Edmunds based Hazells Chartered Surveyors, Cambridge agents Bidwells and Savills London’s logistics department. www.suffolk-park.uk

Green light granted for one of the largest warehouses available within the M25, meeting demand for quality logistics space close to the Capital Customers to benefit from access to a skilled workforce, including 1.6 million qualified locals1 Planning has been granted for a high specification 338,267 sq ft single unit warehouse at Purfleet Commercial Park, Essex.  Available to pre-let with the ability for an immediate start on site, Purfleet 338 is just 16 miles from Central London and at the heart of the M25 and A13 corridors, providing excellent connectivity across Greater London and the South East.  This location has prime access to the national motorway network, only half a mile from junctions 30 and 31 of the M25. This sees it able to efficiently service potential e-commerce, retail and third-party logistics customers, with capability of reaching 21 million consumers, with a combined purchasing power of £453 billion per annum2, within two hours.  Purfleet 338 also benefits from a sizeable base of potential employees – with 9,300 job seekers within a 30-minute radius and access to 1.6 million locals with qualifications relevant to logistics and distribution.     The warehouse will be developed to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ specification and will include more than 29,000 sq ft of high quality office space. Sustainably designed and energy efficient, the property will feature electric car charging points and infrastructure for future electric vehicle fleets, solar thermal heating and hot water, and carbon neutral cladding. The wider park has been designed to meet the business, health and wellbeing needs of Goodman’s customers with outdoor seating alongside a pond, mature landscaping, and a delineated running track. George Glennie, Development Director at Goodman, said:  “Purfleet 338 sees Goodman continuing our commitment to provide critical infrastructure for delivery of essential goods and services.  “With this new development, we will further connect our customers with their consumers both in the Capital and wider South East region, helping them meet growing expectations for faster deliveries.” Purfleet 338’s plans also include an 18 metre clear internal height, 55 metre yard depth, 4MVA of power and a cladding system designed to meet chill-store requirements – offering customers flexibility in usage while maximising operational efficiency.   Glennie continued:  “Goodman focuses on securing key sites for properties that stand the test of time. We know that well located, designed and managed properties are better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. Our Purfleet investment allows for rising demand in flexible, high-specification spaces that support supply chain efficiencies.”    To find out more about Purfleet Commercial Park, please visit the website for further details. Joint agents marketing the scheme are Cushman & Wakefield and JLL.