Logistics specialists have been chilling out in the West Country – checking out one of the biggest cold storage facilities on the market in the UK.
While the rest of Bristol has been downsizing to Hawiian shirts and shorts surveyors from Colliers International in Bristol have been putting on their overcoats to show occupiers around the Asda distribution centre in Portbury.
The 250,000sq ft store – which can take the temperature down to a pleasant and refreshing -23C – will be surplus to requirements when Asda moves its chilled and frozen hub to an even bigger site in Avonmouth.
Head of Colliers International’s Bristol office Tim Davies said the Portbury hub was possibly the largest chilled facility on the market in the UK.
“Given the temperatures in Bristol city centre arranging viewings at what is effectively the biggest fridge on the market is very satisfying. We can testify it certainly beats the average office air conditioning system.”
The 250,000 sq ft unit is located on a self-contained site less than a minute from Junction 19 on the M5, offers 36 dock level loading doors and includes offices, operations room and diesel station.
“Simple economies of scale and the first rate transport network north of Bristol are bringing more and more businesses to the Avonmouth area and putting the area at the centre of the UK’s industrial and logistics map.
Tim Davies added: “The freezer unit is a very pleasant contrast but it really is so cold that you are glad to get back outside after a couple of minutes.”
