Cranes are already on site at the former Rhodia site in Avonmouth as work gets underway on a 616,000 sq ft distribution centre for Asda.
The deal – brokered by Colliers International’s Bristol office – is three times the size of the firm’s headline big shed deal in 2012, which saw Yankee Candle take 170,000 sq ft of space at the vacant 4Mation unit.
In total, the Asda distribution centre is bigger than similar centres built for the supermarket giant’s rivals Tesco, Co Op and John Lewis.
Other major occupiers in the area include Robert Wiseman Dairies, Superdrug, Honda, Keuhne and Nagel, Accolade Wines, Avon & Somerset Police and DSV.
Head of Colliers International’s Bristol office Tim Davies said the deal was further evidence that the Avonmouth area was being seen as one of the leading distribution hubs in the UK.
He said: “Simple economies of scale and the first rate transport network north-west of Bristol are bringing more and more business to Avonmouth and putting the area at the centre of the UK’s industrial and logistics map.
“With the M4 and M5 motorway junctions close by Avonmouth is delivering the most efficient transport solutions not just for the whole of the South West but South Wales as well.
“Size is clearly becoming more and more important in today’s economy. The Co op opened a 450,000 sq foot facility in November and Tesco has launched a 500,000 sq ft centre.
Asda completed the purchase of 40 acres of land from French chemical giant Rhodia. The site had been used by various heavy chemical industries since 1917 and was closed and partially demolished in 2006.
The £70m development provides a new chilled and frozen facility of 485,000 s ft alongside an Asda Service Centre of 131,000 sq ft which will service 123 stores and replace Asda’s previous depot at Portbury.
