Joint venture partners Maple Grove Developments and Kier Property Developments have announced two further lettings at Artis Park in Winsford, taking the occupancy level across the whole estate up to 60%.
Gemco has signed up to unit 10 measuring 26,620 sq ft on a 15 year lease and City Plumbing has taken unit 3, comprising 4,069 sq ft on a 10 year lease. The deals come after British Red Cross took units 11 and 12 totalling 26,770 sq ft last summer.
HP Construction is nearing the completion of phase two which, when complete in mid-February, will offer 53,000 sq ft of employment space across three units ranging in size from 10,560 sq ft to 26,620 sq ft.
The entire industrial and trade counter development comprises 122,000 sq ft of floorspace with flexible units ranging in size from 4,000 sq ft – 26,620 sq ft.
Speaking about the deal, Nik Puttnam, Senior Development Manager at Maple Grove, commented: “We’re really encouraged by the quality of occupiers enquiries we are receiving. Gemco and City Plumbing are an excellent addition to our tenant line up and we have agreed heads of terms on Units 8 and 9 with other occupiers which, if successful, will take the occupany rate up to 83%.”
Henry Martin, Senior Development Manager at Kier Property continued: “We have made excellent progress on lettings particularly over the last six months with potential occupiers able to see firsthand the offer here at Artis Park. The £5 million loan provided by Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership has allowed us to create a high-quality industrial development for expanding businesses and we look forward to announcing more deals in the coming weeks.”
Phil Joyce – Property Director at the Highbourne Group Limited commented: “Our new branch in Winsford is a great example of the type of destination trade counter development that we are targeting as part of our extensive, 5 year, national acquisition programme. Our sales performance over the past year has been strong. This adds to our underlying confidence to heavily invest in the branch network. As part of the HIG stable, The Highbourne Group has the capital available to really promote the City Plumbing brand nationally. These are exciting times to be involved with our businesses”
Andrea Iacchetti, CEO for Gemco commented “The new warehouse at Winsford marks an important step in our plans to furtherly develop our business in the UK. This new facility will provide the operational flexibility and capacity on UK territory to respond to the global supply challenges and to furtherly increase our efficiency and effectiveness, so to continue to provide our customers with an exceptional level of service.”
Matt Pochin, director at Legat Owen, joint agents for the scheme with Gerald Eve, commented: “Artis Park builds on Winsford Industrial Estate’s reputation for being one of the most sustainable and well connected business destinations in the region. Requirements are coming through at a steady pace and with a lack of good quality sites available to the standard of Artis Park, conversion rates have been very respectable.”
Winsford Industrial Estate is the UK’s first Green Business Park and has benefitted from significant environmental improvements. Winsford was also the first estate in the UK to become a Business Improvement District.
On the Gemco deal, Gemco represented themselves and Mason Owen represented City Plumbing Supplies Limited
