Plans for Phase two of the Exeter Gateway distribution facility will put the city and surrounding area on the map as the South West’s leading distribution hub south of Bristol if they get the go ahead, says property consultancy JLL.
Tim Western, lead director at JLL in Exeter, made the comments after an outline planning application to create a development of 110,000 sq m of logistics and distribution floor space was submitted to East Devon District Council.
The site is next to where Lidl UK’s regional distribution hub is being constructed, which forms Phase one of Exeter Gateway. Both sites are part of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point economic development zone east of the M5, near Exeter Airport.
Tim Western said: “Exeter and the nearby area look set to become the pre-eminent distribution and logistics hub south of Bristol if these plans for Phase two of Exeter Gateway get the green light. It is the most significant planning application to be submitted in the local area since the Met Office in terms of the creation of employment land.
“This new development would create hundreds of jobs, provide a major vote of confidence in the area and undoubtedly attract investment in the region. It is fantastic that the Church Commissioners of England have brought forward this land for development at a time when there is an acute shortage of employment land and buildings that can accommodate this sector in the area.”
Tim Western added: “There is over 50,000 sq m of unsatisfied demand from logistics and distribution companies in the market locally, so I expect there to be no shortage of interest in this new hub. The development at Phase 2 will complement nearby employment centres such as Exeter Science Park and Skypark. Infrastructure investments such as those to Junction 29 of the M5 and the construction of the Clyst Honiton bypass have opened up this area as a key opportunity for economic growth and the submission of these plans are testament to that.”
