Developers Barnfield Group and HBD, part of Henry Boot, have completed a land sale for a 10 acre site at APTUS, Preston, paving the way for development to begin on the first unit of the 800,000sq ft scheme.
The Kerakoll Group has acquired the first plot at this strategic employment scheme where it will develop a 145,000sq ft manufacturing and distribution facility. The expansion will enable Kerakoll UK Ltd, its UK subsidiary, to grow beyond its current Leyland base and supply the Group’s Nordic operations from Preston.
The Kerakoll Group is a multinational company with a turnover of €774 million in 2023. Working in the construction industry, it offers an integrated range of products and services for building better places to live.
Ed Hutchinson, Managing Director at HBD, said: “With the land sale now complete, work will begin on site to deliver the infrastructure for our first occupier Kerakoll, a hugely successful, growing business and a great anchor for the scheme. APTUS is very well located, which, coupled with the continued shortage of industrial and logistics space across the region, is driving strong interest from potential occupiers.”
Travel Clavell-Bate, Head of Development and Acquisition at Barnfield Group, said: “It’s fantastic to have now completed the land sale with Kerakoll – Barnfield Construction will be building the unit on behalf of Kerakoll UK Ltd and we look forward to getting started and working with them to provide high-quality, sustainable space to facilitate their growth plans.”
Carl Gardner, Managing Director of Kerakoll UK Ltd, commented: “We are delighted to have finalised the acquisition of this strategic site in partnership with HBD and Barnfield Group. This development is a crucial component of our growth strategy and will significantly enhance our presence in the UK and northern Europe. We look forward to collaborating with HBD and Barnfield as construction begins”.
HBD and Barnfield Group have secured planning permission for a total of 800,000sq ft of industrial and logistics space at APTUS. Close to junction 31A of the M6, it could create as many as 1,500 new jobs a huge boost for the Lancashire economy. Units are available from 25,000sq ft through to 500,000sq ft.
The agents for APTUS are Gerald Eve, Young & Co and Eckersley Property.
HBD, part of Henry Boot, is one of the UK’s most well-established property developers. It boasts an impressive track record, strong financial backing and a reputation for delivery that has seen it become the partner of choice for local authorities, investors, and developers. Working with a £1.3 billion development pipeline, HBD operates from six UK offices, focusing on industrial and logistics, urban development and residential projects.
Barnfield Group are contractors, developers and investors working with public and private sector partners and clients for more than 40 years. Headquartered in Lancashire, the £80 million turnover property group is delivering a diverse range of schemes on more than 30 live sites nationwide. The organisation is a market leader in its field, with an excellent track record in every sector of the industry.
