Debenhams to open new distribution centre

A DEAL that will see Debenhams establish a new distribution centre in Yorkshire is the largest industrial property letting of the year to date.

Debenhams has signed a 27 year lease at an undisclosed rent for a 667,000 sq ft warehouse unit at Evander Properties’ Sherburn Distribution Park just outside Leeds.

The new operation will create up to 800 jobs.

Debenhams will commence fit-out of the regional distribution centre immediately with occupation set to take place in June 2011.

Neil Dickinson, director of Evander Properties, said: “The major investment by Debenhams is an excellent result for the region and continues a successful year for Sherburn Distribution Park. Our capacity to structure deals to suit individual occupiers’ requirements has played a major factor in the success of the scheme.”

The site incorporates 12,452 sq ft of office accommodation.

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Evander Properties was jointly represented by CB Richard Ellis, DTZ and Moriarty & Co. Debenhams was unrepresented.

Toby Vernon, senior director at CB Richard Ellis, said: “This significant letting signals positive news for the Yorkshire industrial property market and the regional economy. This is the third plus 400,000 sq ft letting in the region this year, all of which have been to large retailers – Amazon at Vulcan in Doncaster and ASOS at Crossflow, Barnsley.

“The Yorkshire region has demonstrated its capacity to accommodate major locating retailers and we are currently handling interest in the remaining 660,000 sq ft.”

Sherburn Distribution Park comprises a total of 1.4m sq ft of industrial accommodation Debenhams will join existing tenant Sala International, which relocated from London to establish a 92,000 sq ft northern operation at the end of last year, and Eddie Stobart, Sainsburys and Kingspan.