Retail park sale fuels speculation on further Jaguar Land Rover expansion

A BIRMINGHAM retail park close to the site of the Jaguar plant at Castle Bromwich is being offered for sale as part of a £260m portfolio, according to reports.

The decision by Brockton Capital to include the Ravenside Retail Park, off Kingsbury Road, in the portfolio of sites has led to speculation that the car giant may be on the verge of expanding its already significant presence in the area.

The company has already acquired a former multiplex cinema and diner on Kingsbury Road so it can expand the site and the company has also taken over the former Dunlop Motorsports tyre plant close by so it can create the extra capacity it needs to support the site’s growth.

Last month it announced it would be investing an additional £100m into its Castle Bromwich plant in a move that will see production of the XE saloon gradually shipped across from the firm’s neighbouring plant in Solihull.

The move is intended to free up capacity on the XE production line at Lode Lane for the new F-Pace crossover model, which has replaced the XE as Jaguar’s fastest selling model.

There has been no confirmation from either party that the Ravenside offer is connected with this but JLR has been keen to keep its land deals out of the public domain until matters are finalised.

The 128,500 sq ft retail park as it stands is a well-used facility with tenants including Halfords, Carpetright, Harveys, Go Outdoors, Dunelm Mill, Dreams, Starplan Furniture, Currys, The Range and Wren Kitchens.

Reports in the property press have said that agent JLL has been appointed to market the portfolio, which was acquired by Brockton in 2011.

In addition to Ravenside, the package of sites includes Cardiff Gate Retail Park, The Foundry Retail Park in Rotherham, The Riverside Retail Park in Warrington, Springhill Retail Park in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and Gloucester Retail Park.