Part-sale of Blythe Valley Park nears as more big names touch down

IM Properties is closing in on the sale of part of its Blythe Valley site to real estate investor Kennedy Wilson.

The deal will be for 16 office buildings and some land which could be developed. It was reported to be valued in the region of £130m, which would make it one of the biggest investment sales in the Midlands this year.

IM Properties will keep phase two of the site, which will see up to 750 homes built, and Connexion, its 209,000 sq ft campus of five, logistics and manufacturing buildings.

The Solihull park, which is home to a number of companies including Arup and Gymshark, is seen as being the first genuinely mixed-use business park in the region.

Yesterday it was revealed that one of the most famous names in British engineering is taking office space at Blythe Valley Park.

GKN Aerospace has signed up for 11,403 sq ft at One Central Boulevard (OCB), which has attracted a variety of occupiers since its £5m refurbishment.

GKN’s estates director, Jane Leedham, said the company hopes to be in the new offices in the New Year.

Rob Hemus, asset director for IM Properties, said: “You only have to look at PKF’s award winning offices at OCB and innovators like technology communications company, Wavenet, to see they are in good company.

“Whilst the business sectors they come from are quite diverse from professional services to tech, they all share in a common belief for creating a great working environment for their employees.”