IM Properties (IMP) has secured planning permission for Peddimore Birmingham, one of the UK’s most significant new manufacturing and logistics sites that will deliver 2.7 million sq ft of employment space.
Located near Birmingham, 2.5 miles from junction 9, M42, Peddimore will include a new strategic gateway on the A38, a main arterial route into the city centre, and its proximity to the motorway network will offer outstanding connectivity to the rest of the UK, providing units from 70,000 to 1 million sq ft.
IMP, which is one of the UK’s largest privately-owned property companies, is creating the site in partnership with Birmingham City Council after its selection as preferred development partner following a rigorous international competition.
Peddimore will be a best in class employment park for manufacturing and logistics and is set to create a new industry benchmark for its high-quality design and landscape and an approach which focuses on employee wellbeing and sustainability.
Kevin Ashfield, UK development director for IMP, said: “As one of the most active developers in the region we are aware that occupiers are looking for the best working environments, which is paired with the fact that there is a critical lack of industrial land supply in the area, so we are already seeing high levels of interest.”
Site-wide infrastructure works are due to begin in Q4 2019, and IMP will be delivering 1.38 million sq ft (Zone A), with built-to-suit units ready for occupation by Q3 2021.
Kevin Ashfield continues: “We have spent over 12 months working on this proposal, with a considerable focus on placemaking and challenging many of the perceptions of manufacturing and logistics sites. We are looking to establish a development that is highly accessible, and a great place to work and visit.
“An employee’s experience is not limited to when they enter or leave their place of work: it is shaped by the wider environment they work in, how they spend their time at lunch, and time before and after work. In short, they expect more. Our cohesive, site-wide strategy responds to these needs and we believe will contribute significantly to employee satisfaction.
“We’re responding to what we’ve learnt from our established employee well-being programme at our mixed-use scheme Blythe Valley Park, and from recent lettings we are confident that the logistics and manufacturing sector is ready to embrace this agenda. We are already embedding similar initiatives at Birch Coppice Business Park.
“We are also pioneering an extensive social value programme associated with Peddimore, which will accelerate with the delivery phase. This is already demonstrating tangible benefits for the local community and will help to fulfil our ambition of delivering a lasting legacy.”
IMP has also set out a commitment to reduce its environmental impact, signing up to a carbon reduction strategy that includes smart grid technology which uses photovoltaics (PV) and battery technology to offset tenants’ energy costs.
Kevin Ashfield added: “We were the first in the UK to introduce an electricity cost-neutral logistics building at The Hub in Birmingham which we let to Argos and we’ve taken the data from there to help shape our plans for Peddimore.”
Avison Young, CBRE and Colliers will act as agents on the scheme.
Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Peddimore is one of the country’s best connected and positioned development sites and I’m delighted that planning permission has been approved. It has the potential to be a world-class employment estate where businesses choose to invest, operate and grow, creating thousands of skilled jobs in the city along with training opportunities for local people.
“The high-quality design and landscaping on the site will help integrate the development into the surrounding area, which is important for the local community, and it will be supported by major investment in the transport network. I’m also really pleased to see IM Properties’ commitment to a social value programme.”
