Out of Town: Pensnett Estate
Give us a brief description of the development:
Situated in Kingswinford, in the heart of the West Midlands, The Pensnett Estate comprises approximately 2.3m sq ft of industrial, warehouse and office space on a site of 185 acres.
The estate also boasts a high degree of security – all entrances are monitored 24 hours a day with fully recorded CCTV security cameras.
What state of development is the site currently in and which tenants are based there?
The estate has 25 acres for future development of speculative or purpose-built premises. Work is currently underway on Progress Point, a new £1.5m development of 21,000 sq ft of warehouse and industrial space. The development, due for completion in spring 2014, will comprise three blocks with units ranging from 1,500 to 9,000 sq ft.
There are approximately 200 tenants from various industries, including manufacturing, wholesale, logistics and distribution, creative, financial services and third sector. Familiar names include Helix, Kennametal, Sven Christiansen, Intralox, Handicare and Booker Wholesale.
What’s the most interesting feature about the development?
Up until the 1930s the site was used for coal and fire stone mining and doubled up as an ammunitions depot after World War II.
LCP’s founders – Lunt, Comley and Pitt – were among the first innovators of industrial estate development and management back in the late 1940s and, in 1987, the property division was purchased by Casper MacDonald-Hall, who is now the company’s chairman.
What’s the history of the site and what first attracted the developer to it?
The Pensnett Estate was established in 1948 and consisted of 13 hanger units brought down to Kingswinford from Scotland. It is now one of the largest secure industrial estates in Europe and the largest industrial investment within the LCP portfolio.
Who owns the development and how is it being backed?
London & Cambridge Properties – one of the UK’s largest private owners of industrial, retail and office property to let – wholly own the estate and fund any improvements or new developments.
