Exciting plans to build a £20 million industrial and logistics unit at one of the West Midlands’ leading business parks have been given the green light, leading commercial property developer and investor Barberry Industrial announced today.
The proposed development on Junction 15 of the M40 at Tournament Fields Business Park in Warwick is expected to generate further investment in the region and create dozens of new jobs.
Barberry acquired the last remaining plot at the highly sought-after business park earlier this year. Now, the company has secured reserved matters planning permission from Warwick District Council for a 92,246 sq ft Grade A ‘best in class’ distribution and logistics unit on the site.
Jonathan Robinson, Barberry development director, said the company is now due to appoint a main contractor immediately with the intention of starting on site in Q1 2025.
“We are thrilled to be in the position to progress our exciting business plan having secured planning consent for our prime mid-box industrial and logistics building at Tournament Fields. In doing so, we continue to demonstrate not only our commitment to the mid-box industrial logistics market but also our capability in the UK market.
“This is one of our recently acquired sites and we continue to seek new opportunities in line with our plans to keep growing our business in this sector. We have already had several named occupiers engage with us on this site and we are very much looking forward to building out the proposed scheme and bringing dozens of new jobs to the region,” said Jonathan.
Barberry – one of the UK’s leading developers of mid-box industrial units – simultaneously exchanged and completed the purchase of the Warwick site within 10 working days of instructing solicitors.
The site was bought for an undisclosed sum from Sackville Developments (Warwick) Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd. Wareing & Company and Savills have been retained by Barberry to act as leasing agents.
“The development of a best-in-class unit will help to address the ongoing shortage of new, high quality industrial accommodation in the West Midlands. New buildings such as this help to create the quality accommodation that local, regional and national businesses need in order to expand their operations within the Midlands,” added Jonathan.
This highly visible and accessible site has the perfect combination of immediate motorway access off Junction 15 of the M40, providing a logistically superb location coupled with the prominence suitable for a HQ-style operator or customer facing business. The building will focus on sustainability and will be built to exceptional ESG standards, targeting EPC A + and BREEAM Outstanding accreditation including electric vehicle charging points, solar panels, green initiatives, and staff welfare.
Barberry can offer freehold or leasehold options to occupiers. The company anticipates significant interest from a market starved of high quality, mid-box warehouse and production facilities on the M40 and M42 corridors. It is a unique opportunity to join a number of international businesses who have made Tournament Fields their home, including Scholastic Publications, Gallagher Security, Semcon, Sodick and most recently, Hansgrohe, who took occupation of their 36,000 sq ft facility in the spring of 2023.
Barberry has also this year revealed exciting plans to develop two other high quality warehouse units in the West Midlands, demonstrating its commitment to investment in the region. In Birmingham, it plans to build a £16 million 77,000 sq ft Grade A warehouse after acquiring a high-quality site in an off-market deal at Quinton Business Park, Birmingham.
The company also plans to develop an advanced manufacturing unit with a value of £10.5 million in Ansty, Coventry, at one of the most successful business technology parks in the UK. It will deliver a 50,750 sq ft advanced manufacturing unit at Ansty Park after completing the acquisition of the Viggen Way site from Homes England.
Barberry has a 2.5 million sq ft industrial/logistics development pipeline with a Gross Development Value of more than £400 million and a growing income-producing commercial portfolio, delivering sustainable returns. The company also has 515 acres of strategically located residential and employment development land, capable of delivering 3,500 new homes including a 314 Build-to-rent (BTR) apartment scheme in the heart of Coventry city centre.