Barwood Capital, a leading UK real estate investment and development business, has completed its first acquisition for its 2015 Property Fund with the purchase of Woodlands Business Park in Milton Keynes in an off market deal for £7.6 million from Receivers, Moorfields Corporate Recovery.
The 12.5 acre office park at Linford Wood, MK14 is situated one mile north of central Milton Keynes and comprises ten buildings totalling 135,000 sq ft, with potential for an additional 150,000 sq ft of new office development. Current occupiers include: Leica Microsystems Ltd, a world leader in providing innovative microscopy, camera and software solutions; Ipsos Retail Performance Ltd, the retail analytics specialists; Worksmart, the financial services’ software provider; and the White Clarke Group, a global first-class provider of automotive and asset finance software.
Barwood Capital will undertake site wide improvements and redesign the masterplan to provide much needed Grade A office accommodation to Milton Keynes to address its lack of office supply, which will include a potential 150,000 sq ft of new office accommodation, subject to the necessary planning consents.
Andrew Barlow, director, Barwood Capital said: “We are delighted to have secured the first acquisition for our 2015 Fund with the purchase of Woodlands Business Park. Milton Keynes is a key central market in the UK and has shown exceptional expansion in the last decade. The city continues to attract blue chip occupiers thanks to its strategic location on the M1 and with links to London and Birmingham. Companies at Woodlands benefit from its great location and excellent parking, and the Park offers outstanding potential for providing the best new office buildings in Milton Keynes.”
Barwood’s 2015 growth fund recently closed with the ability to secure more than £100m of commercial and residential property assets. Barwood Capital continues to seek well located assets with lot sizes between £3 million and £20 million that have the potential for value to be added through active asset management, planning and development.
Bidwells acted on behalf of Barwood Capital in the purchase, and has been appointed letting agents alongside LSH and Knight Frank.
