Workwear wholesaler secures new lease at 105,000 sq ft unit

A workwear and leisurewear wholesaler has secured a new ten-year lease for a distribution warehouse unit in the Black Country.

BTC Activewear was formed in 2000 through the merger of three West Midlands companies and was bought by Swedish firm New Wave Group.AB in 2022. Selling various sportswear, casual wear, and workwear, it offers around 50 different clothing brands, including Nike, Regatta, Helly Hansen, and Fruit of the Loom

A deal on its 105,000 sq ft headquarters at Opus 9, Axletree Way in Wednesbury has now been negotiated by Harris Lamb, to allow the firm to continue its operations from the site.

Richard Fantham, of Harris Lamb’s Lease Advisory team, said: “The commercial market for high-quality warehouse properties adjacent to Motorway junctions is currently both challenging and evolving and it has never been more important for occupiers nearing the end of their leases to seek expert professional advice on their next steps before making decisions about their future.

“BTC Activewear have occupied this facility for several years and were approaching the expiry of their current lease.  Thanks to our access to market intelligence and supply-and-demand data, our team provided the business with a transparent picture of the current marketplace and we were instructed to enter negotiations with the landlord’s representatives, eventually agreeing on terms for a further ten-year term to enable them to continue operating from the site.”

Jeb Lewis, of BTC Activewear, said: “We are well aware of the demand for properties of the size in this location, and we were concerned that reports of rents being driven up as a result of this could work to our detriment. However, we were extremely pleased with the up-to-date, relevant market information that the Harris Lamb team provided us with and that they were able to advise us on acceptable terms to renew the lease and oversee negotiations to secure settlement.”