IM Properties has started construction on a new 152,500 sq ft speculative industrial unit at its award winning Birch Coppice Business Park.
Due to be completed in March 2015, the building will include 7,500 sq ft of Grade A offices and will have an EPC rating of ‘A’. The unit will also feature 16 loading docks, 165 car parking spaces, 30 HGV spaces and a 50m yard.
The construction of this new unit follows IM Properties’ recent programme of speculative development, which over the last 12 months has included a 168,900 sq ft unit at Birch Coppice which was let on a 15 year lease to DAU Draexlmaier, and a 50,000 sq ft unit at Solihull Business Park which was let to John Lewis on a 25 year lease. Both units were let prior to practical completion.
Kevin Ashfield, Senior Development Director at IM Properties, said “We are confident in our decision to develop speculatively again given the continued strong occupier interest in Birch Coppice alongside the lack of available buildings.”
The 400 acre Birch Coppice site, in Dordon near Tamworth, is situated just off Junction 10 of the M42 and is one of IM Properties’ most celebrated sites. Over £40m from internal sources has been invested in the former colliery, which is now the West Midlands’ largest rail-served development site.
The unit is being constructed by West Bromwich-based Anglo Holt Construction.
Andy Elwell, Managing Director at Anglo Holt, said: “We have a successful track record of working with IM Properties on its distribution units at Birch Coppice Business Park. We are therefore delighted to have been appointed as contractors and we are looking forward to working with IM Properties on this impressive project.”