Birmingham brownfield site to be developed into £33m logistics park

A collaborative new scheme will see Tristan Capital Partners and Canmoor develop a £32.9m logistics park Birmingham. The project will be completed in partnership with regeneration firm St Francis Group, with GMI Construction Group (GMI) being awarded the contract to deliver the 400,000ft² warehousing and logistics hub.

Situated off Eckersall Road, the 29-acre brownfield site sits adjacent to the A441 and A38 – it is opened this will open up new, faster links across the region.

The speculative development, which could create 900 jobs, with Henley-based St Francis Group being responsible for delivering the completed units.

Full planning permission for the project was given by Birmingham City Council in February 2021.

The £32.9m Urban 8 Logistics Park is set to feature eight energy-efficient units, which range from 25,000ft² to 70,000ft², according to the construction firm.

The mentioned units are expected to achieve a BREEM Excellent rating, with the broader park scheduled to include a broader range of sustainability measures, including LED lighting, more than 300,00kWh/annum of photovoltaic power generation and electric vehicle charging.

The implementation of energy-saving infrastructure at the park is predicted to lead to overall CO2 emissions savings of 25%.

Ben Reaney, project development lead at St Francis Group, said: “This warehousing and logistics hub is already keenly anticipated due to its prime location and mix of mid box units.

“Urban 8 Logistics Park will deliver levels of quality and sustainability that will exceed expectations.”

The high specification detached units, set amid landscaped surroundings, will be externally finished in composite metal cladding in various grey and silver finishes, with glazing incorporated into entrances and office spaces.

In 2019, GKN Aerospace announced the phased closure of its King’s Norton Factory, which produced windscreens and windows for the aviation industry.

Pilkington Automotive then consolidated its logistics operations into a larger site in Redditch, located nearby.

Gareth Jones, GMI’s divisional managing director, Midlands, added: “We are pleased to have been appointed principal contractor for this high-profile scheme, one that will support investment and create jobs by providing much-needed logistics and manufacturing space.

“GMI has a proven track record of delivering large, high specification industrial units across the Midlands, and we look forward to delivering another high-quality development that will meet market demand.”

GMI expects the development to be finished by Q4 2024.

Source: logisticsmanager.com