Kingsway’s Imperial scheme secures first lettings at two key units

More than 240,000 sq ft of space has been let at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale by the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF).

The scheme comprises three Grade A, speculatively-built units, with Imperial165 being let to Cleland McIver, a key supplier of household textiles to UK retailers and Imperial76 being let to Solotech, an international audio and visual technology firm that has worked with the likes of Coldplay, The Killers and Stormzy.

Imperial165 comprises 165,696 sq ft and Imperial76 comprises 76,418 sq ft. The scheme is located at junction 21 of the M62, and these lettings build on GMPF’s previous success at Kingsway, having let Monarch330 (328,000 sq ft) to global food company Danish Crown in 2022.

Cleland McIver and Solotech join a range of other national and international businesses based at Kingsway that includes Amazon, ASDA, Dachser and JD Sports. JLL acted as joint letting agent for GMPF on the two deals.

Joe Bostock, industrial and logistics associate at JLL, said: “Imperial is a great example of a new build scheme that is an attractive proposition for occupiers looking for high quality, sustainable and well-connected accommodation.

“Both Cleland McIver and Solotech are existing occupiers in the borough who are consolidating from multiple existing units into larger, more efficient premises.

“These lettings have achieved new record rents for Kingsway and are a testament to the quality product that GMPF has delivered, having had strong interest in both these units and the remaining unit which comprises 47,358 sq ft.”

Cllr Gerald Cooney, Chair of Greater Manchester Pension Fund, said: “This is part of GMPF’s long standing successful programme of investing in Greater Manchester with the twin aims of delivering commercial returns to meet our pension liabilities whilst having a positive impact on the local economy, where the majority of our members live and work.”

APAM is advising the landlord GMPF on the scheme. JLL, Avison Young and CBRE are the joint letting agents.