Work starts on multi-million pound logistics units

Posted by on 19 Nov 2021

Building work is underway on four new units at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale. Wilson Bowden Developments, which has a track record in the delivery of Grade A warehouse space, have started groundworks on the 8.67 acre site between Sir Isaac Newton Way and Lower Lane – known as Urban Park or Plot G.

The multi-million pound scheme is expected to be finished by September 2022.

The units, which vary in size from 21,570 sq ft to 39,740 sq ft, have been bought speculatively by property investment company Urban Logistics REIT. The scheme is being jointly marketed by Manchester-based Paul Cook, of CBRE and Jason Print of Gerald Eve; and Georgina Harrington and Myles Wilcox-Smith, of M1 Agency .

John Barker, Development Director at investor Urban Logistics REIT, said: “Because of the lack of supply for this type of property and the quality of the build, we’re hoping for some strong early interest.”
Mr Barker added: “This is our first site in Kingsway but Rochdale has been a location where we’d sought a presence for a while” .

“We look at sites across the country and the key priorities for us are location, transport networks and employment supply. This location ticks all of these boxes. “Kingsway Business Park is an established location with established transport links. Wilson Bowden has an excellent reputation for the delivery of Grade A space ” Kingsway will deliver warehouses with excellent BREEAM and EPC ratings which will assist occupiers in meeting their net zero targets. Communications are excellent and the scheme is within an hour’s drive of eight million people.

Urban Park is situated alongside the M62, with more than 110,000 vehicles driving past Kingsway every day. Urban Logistics specialise in logistics properties and Mr Barker predicted the units would attract a wide range of interest. Richard Moffitt, CEO of Urban Logistics REIT, commented “The location of these units is perfect for logistics, situated on an established business park in an area of high demand,” he said. “We expect to see significant interest and numerous jobs created.”

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member of regeneration at Rochdale Borough Council and RDA board member, said: “The fact that Kingsway, one of the premier business parks in the north of England, continues to grow and thrive, despite the incredible challenges of the last 18 months, is incredibly encouraging.

“This next exciting stage of development follows the completion of the Logic development, a set of 11 new spec built units, almost of which are now occupied, and the letting of plot H (Kingsway 216) to a major occupier. This underlines Rochdale’s reputation as a fantastic place to do business, with an investment friendly approach, excellent transport links and a proactive approach to development.”

Unit 1 is 21,570 sq ft in size; unit 2 is 31,550 sq ft; unit 3 is 25,680 sq ft; and unit 4 is 39,740 sq ft.