Opus Land and Bridges Fund Management have appointed BNP Paribas Real Estate and JLL as joint agents to market ‘CONNEQT’ – two speculative industrial units totaling 283,185 sq ft at Kingswood Lakeside business park, Cannock.
The former colliery site is being brought back to use through a joint venture between Opus Land and funding partner Bridges, building on the area’s strong industrial heritage and boosting local employment prospects with the creation of more than 400 new jobs.
The two units, set for completion in 2018, are designed by award-winning architects GMTW using highly efficient and sustainable materials. The strategic location, immediately adjacent to the M6 Toll road and in close proximity to excellent transport links, places the site only a three-hour drive from around 75% of the UK’s population. Current occupiers at Kingswood Lakeside include DHL, Sainsburys and Veolia.
The project has received a grant and debt funding from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and the West Midlands Combined Authority respectively.
Victoria Smith, joint managing director of Opus Land, said: “This is Opus’ fourth development at Kingswood Lakeside showing the draw the area has for commercial occupiers.
“The development of this site will provide Grade A industrial accommodation to help plug the acute shortage of industrial and storage land accommodation in the Midlands. We are thrilled to be part of that process.”
Richard James-Moore, Associate Director at BNP Paribas Real Estate, said: “We are delighted to be appointed on this outstanding opportunity, offering occupiers the highest level of efficiency and sustainability in design, strong transport links and access to a highly-skilled workforce.
“Cannock has a strong industrial heritage and regional identity, and we are proud to be working with Opus Land, who have played a key role in delivering high-quality developments at Kingswood Lakeside and positioning it as one of the region’s leading business parks.”
Opus has recently completed a design-and-build unit on behalf of First Choice Catering, having previously built a regional distribution hub for courier firm APC, and the HQ offices of waste management company Veolia, on adjoining plots at Kingswood Lakeside.