Automotive specialists at Colliers International have helped broker a number of deals which have seen leading manufacturers move to more competitive showroom sites across the South West.
A flurry of recent deals has seen major players jostling for the best roadside positions in locations from Bristol down to Plymouth.
William Jolly, Director of Colliers International’s specialist Automotive and Roadside team said the movements signalled increased confidence in the sector.
He said: “We are seeing people return to the market to expand their networks in the West. A number of operators are on the expansion trail at a time when they are not coming up against as much competition for sites from the residential and retail sector.”
The team helped broker a deal at the Matford Green Business Park in Exeter, where they have entered into a lease for a new build state of the art 35,000 sq ft sales and service centre to represent Volkswagen.
As a result of the team’s involvement Eagle Land has now appointed Colliers International’s Automotive & Roadside team as joint agents to act on their behalf in the sale or letting of the remainder of the 27 acre site.
The team has also acquired an industrial unit and storage compound at Eagle Road, Plymouth on behalf of Silver Street Automotive (now owned by Marshall Motor Holdings) to relocate their Audi aftersales operation and facilitate the conversion of the current workshop space into a showroom.
Meanewhile in Bristol, Volkswagen Group’s former VW Commercial Vehicles showroom and aftersales facility at Albert Road, St Philips Causeway has been let to jet wash and cleaning equipment specialists Karcher. This will be one of Karcher’s first stand alone retail and service centres in the UK.
On the valuation and professional side the Automotive & Roadside team also advised Threadneedle purchasing the petrol filling stations element of Cardiff Gateway Motorway Service Area which was let to Shell. As well as settling rent reviews for Volkswagen Group in relation to their Exeter and Bath Audi facilities, the team has concluded 10 rent reviews and one lease renewal on behalf of Welcome Break in relation to motorway service area fuel sales forecourts.
