Planning Approval for 345,000 sq ft Unit in UK West Midlands

Hodgetts Estates, advised by Indigo Planning, has been given unanimous approval by North Warwickshire Borough Council Planning and Development Board for Core 1, a large-scale logistics facility at its Core 42 distribution hub in the West Midlands.

Core 1 will comprise a warehouse with associated office space, totalling 32,089 sq m (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 17.5 ha (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. It is within 4.5 hours HGV drive time of 85% of the UK population and the majority of major sea ports. Adjacent to Core 42 is Birch Coppice Business Park, which is occupied by several large tenants including UPS and Volkswagen, attracted to the site for its prime location. The location also 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 31,000 sq m (333,700 sq ft) on five purpose-built development plateaux, with units ranging from 6,500 sq m to 25 000 sq m (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.

Once fully developed, Core 42 will have a total end value of in excess of £70m.

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 bigbox unit is deliverable as early as July 2017.

“Core 42 will provide a boost to the local community and bring a significant level of employment opportunities to the area. We?d also like to take this opportunity to thank North Warwickshire Borough Council for their continued support.”

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.”