Tamworth big shed gets go ahead

A  345,000 sq ft warehouse near Tamworth has been granted planning permission. Hodgetts Estates, advised by Indigo Planning, won approval for Core 1, a large-scale logistics facility at its £70 million Core 42 distribution hub.

The facility will comprise a warehouse with associated office space, totalling 345,400 sq ft as well as extensive trailer parking and associated service yard, infrastructure, landscaping and amenities, including foot and cycle paths. It will also incorporate the latest environmental technologies, ensuring a BREEAM rating of Very Good and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) CO2 index rating of ‘A’.

The 43 acre Core 42 Business Park is located within the ‘Golden Triangle’ – with the M6 to the south, the M1 to the east and the M42 to the north-west. The scheme benefits from being within 0.5 miles of Maritime Transport’s state-of-the-art Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal (BIFT) and lies 0.5 miles from Junction 10 of the M42.

In addition to Core 1, the site can accommodate some 333,700 sq ft on five purpose-built development plateaux, with units ranging from 70,000 sq ft to 270,000 sq ft. Infrastructure works have already begun on site including a new direct access entrance onto the A5 trunk road.

Edward Hodgetts, Development Director at Hodgetts Estates, said: “We’re delighted with the unanimous support for the Core 1 application. Despite the recent market turmoil, post-Brexit deals and market enquiries suggest that the demand for Grade A units of 300,000-350,000 sq ft is still very strong in prime locations such as Core 42. We have pushed ahead with the site infrastructure, meaning that the Core 1 big box unit is deliverable as early as July 2017.

Simon Neate, Chairman of Indigo Planning, said: “Demand remains strong for large industrial warehouses in prime locations such as this and Core 1 will be a significant asset to the park. Core 42 itself is a strategic site, well-placed for occupiers to take full advantage of the nearby Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal as well as the national motorway and rail freight network – the decision to start infrastructure works speculatively has been driven by these factors and strong occupier demand to pre let these units as they come forward is anticipated.”

Other members of the project team include Chetwoods Architects, Hydrock consultant engineers and First Industrial project managers. Letting agents are Cushman & Wakefield and Avison Young.