Property developer plans new business park after multi-million acquisition

A Birmingham property developer is expanding its portfolio into the south west after completing a multi-million pound deal to acquire a large site in Bristol.

Richardson Barberry intends to use the 40-acre site at Central Park, Western Approach, to create the final industrial phase of an already successful 350-acre business park.

The scheme comprises circa 10 buildings ranging in size from 30,000 sq ft to 105,000 sq ft suitable for business uses including light industrial, general industrial and storage and distribution. The development will create hundreds of new jobs, with phase one construction set to commence in Q1 2018.

Central Park boasts several global occupiers including The Range, DHL, Amazon, Lidl, Farmfoods, Davies Turner and CHEP.

Jonathan Robinson, development director of Barberry, said: “This is a significant development that will create the size of warehouses and business units local, regional and national occupiers have indicated are in short supply.

“Our development will cater for this very much needed supply in this location and also complement the larger buildings at Central Park, catering for a new offering. This scheme will not only bring new jobs to Bristol, but also provide a boost in jobs for the construction sector.

“Highways England will shortly be commencing the works to install a new junction on the M49, which will provide direct access into Central Park. Works are due to start in December and will complete in 2019, providing a national motorway connected site.”

Central Park is one of the south west’s largest logistics hubs, which borders the M49 in Avonmouth. It is a fully-serviced site with planning consent and rail connections, ready for development.

Barberry said it had already had several parties express an interest in leasing or purchasing a unit.

Mark Watkins, of Richardson Capital, said: “Both Richardson and Barberry have a trusting long standing relationship that spans over 30 years and have completed several successful developments together. We are very much looking forward to working together again delivering a circa 550,000 sq ft scheme.”

Michael Shebson of Delta Properties, owner of Central Park, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Richardson and Barberry to Central Park. Their mid-box offering will add a new dynamic to Central Park, feeding off the major big-box occupiers already in place.

“This sale almost completes Central Park and we wish Richardson Barberry every success with their speculative development going forward.”