Property round-up: Knight Frank; Wardley Industrial Estate; BXB Land Solutions; AG Project + Building Consultancy

Zip56, Preston Brook

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has acquired the lease on circa 40,000 sq ft warehouse in Runcorn as part of a strategic move to create a national in-house secondary logistics network.

The unit, at Zip56, Preston Brook, close to both the M56 and M6, will link with other new depots in Cardiff and the South East alongside 10 existing depots to serve on-trade customers across the UK.

Knight Frank acted for CMBC, and partner Sam Royle said: “The company previously operated a dual secondary logistics network with an in-house network previously operated by Marston’s while Carlsberg outsourced its requirements to DHL Tradeteam.

“They have taken the decision to consolidate this into one in-house network and the Runcorn location was key to this plan. We are pleased to have been able to source a prime site that perfectly suits their needs.”

Sam added: “This new network of depots will create around 200 jobs across multiple locations and CMBC is also investing in a fleet of 100 new energy-efficient HGV vehicles and vans.”

Unit 1 at Zip 56 will provide 37,092 sq ft/3,445 sq m of refurbished warehouse space, expansive yard areas and ground and first floor offices.

Will Kenyon at B8 Real Estate acted on behalf of the landlord, Logicor.

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Wardley Industrial Estate

An established Manchester industrial estate is now fully let with headline rents at a new high following a successful refurbishment programme.

The work at Wardley Industrial Estate, in Worsley, consisted of the refurbishment of five units ranging from 9,000-20,000 sq ft over an 18-month period. All are now fully let with tenants including the telecoms firm Clearcomm Group and welding equipment wholesaler Wilkinson Star.

Headline rental levels have reached £6.75 per sq ft, a record for the estate.

B8 Real Estate acted as sole letting agent for the landlord.

Wardley Industrial Estate comprises 18 units and is situated directly off the A580 East Lancashire Road, less than a mile from the M60 and within five miles of Manchester city centre. Other tenants on the estate include Wolseley Managed Services and Bespoke Acoustic Solutions.

Anthony Mellor, from B8 Real Estate’s lettings team, said: “Wardley is a proven location within the M60 corridor. This latest success reflects the strong market for good quality refurbished accommodation, where units are being let quickly at record rents to established, high quality occupiers.

“All but one of the lettings were agreed prior to completion of the works, demonstrating the high levels of demand within the current market dynamics.”

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The Hoddlesden masterplan

Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved proposals to regenerate a derelict mill in Hoddlesden, to provide 79 new homes.

Gary Goodman, of Liverpool-based BXB Land Solutions, says the decision will be a major shot in the arm for the commuter village.

“This site has blighted the village for years and our proposals sensitively deal with a host of challenges whilst transforming its visual impact and amenity value. I’m pleased for the villagers, who were supportive of our proposals throughout and who will now benefit from the remediation and delivery of the site.”

The application sought full planning permission for the demolition of several derelict buildings, together with remediation works to the site to enable the completion of a development platform. BXB secured outline permission for 79 new homes split between two-, three- and four-bed properties accessed via Johnson New Road.

Carus Mill was formerly a textile mill making medical fabrics such as swabs and bandages for export around the world. It closed in 2003 and was burned down in 2008. Ground investigations have subsequently shown that the site has been polluted over many years.

Negotiations for the site’s onward sale to a housing developer will begin shortly, said Mr Goodman.

Supporting consultants on the project included Curtins (transport), Brock Carmichael (architects), Nexus (planning) and Erap (ecology).

BXB is currently involved in the transformation of a number of other former industrial sites in St Helens, Preston and Co Durham.

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Jonathan Shaw

Preston-based AG Project + Building Consultancy (AG), has secured a place on the JV North framework, a consortium of housing associations and local authorities.

The £560m framework will enable the framework partners to build approximately 4,000 homes from now to the end of 2025. The JV North consortium is one of the biggest developers of new social homes in the UK, and its members are building the equivalent of 3.5 homes every day.

Consortium members include Bury Council, Johnnie Johnson Housing, One Manchester, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust, Muir Group, Plus Dane Housing, Sovini, Stockport Homes, Stockport Council, Torus, Trafford Housing Trust, Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.

AG is one of eight employers’ agents to secure a place on the framework. Managing director, Jonathan Shaw, said: “We’re proud to have been selected and look forward to playing our part in helping deliver quality affordable housing for people living in the North West.

“The inclusion to the framework aids our expansion into the housing sector, which is an important aspect of our growth plans. We look forward to working with the consortium members in not only creating quality housing but helping deliver projects that help rebuild communities.”

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