Logistics Property Archives

Greggs invests in manufacturing and logistics site

Posted on 10 June, 20244 August, 2025 by David Priestman

UK food-on-the-go retailer, Greggs, have announced it’s entering into a lease agreement for a new state-of-the-art frozen production and logistics facility in Derby, Derbyshire.

Greggs’ strategic growth plan, announced in 2021, set out ambitious expansion targets requiring investment in significant supply chain capacity. At 12 May 2024, Greggs had 2,500 shops trading and it expects to open between 140-160 net new shops during 2024. The longer-term target is to have significantly more than 3,000 shops trading in the UK.

The new facility is being developed at SmartParc SEGRO Derby on a high-tech food manufacturing site in Spondon, Derby. Greggs will occupy a 23-acre plot on the campus. Following the construction of the building by the landlord, Greggs will develop the facility and install state-of-the-art manufacturing and logistics equipment to optimise the efficiency of operations on site. The site is expected to open in late 2026 and create up to 600 jobs.

The new purpose-built facility will provide additional manufacturing capacity for products – including new savoury and sweet production lines – as well as logistics for frozen storage and fully automated robotic shop order picking and distribution solutions from Swisslog, one of the world’s leading logistics automation companies. The facility will also have additional capacity to enable further investments to meet future category growth, innovation and development, including the capacity for at least five manufacturing platforms and the potential for new production lines to be commissioned to meet volume demand.

The site has been designed with a focus on sustainability including the use of an onsite shared Energy Centre (a centralised heating and cooling system that recycles heat from refrigeration plants across the estate), a rainwater harvesting system, PV panels, EV charging points and a secure bike storage to help reduce local emissions.

Roisin Currie, Chief Executive at Greggs commented: “We are delighted to announce our new state-of-the-art facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby. This purpose-built site offers significant flexibility to add new capabilities and lines as our business evolves. This is a significant step in our supply chain investment and will provide much-needed manufacturing and logistics support to power our ambitious growth plans.”

Jackie Wild, CEO at SmartParc said: “It is our ultimate vision that SmartParc SEGRO Derby becomes a hub for forward-thinking food businesses seeking sustainable and efficient operations, a collaborative work space and a first-class location with excellent connectivity, whilst also putting their people first. Greggs embodies this approach and we are immensely proud to welcome such a cherished food business to the site.”

DTZ Investors Acquires Logistics Park

Posted on 29 September, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

DTZ Investors has completed the acquisition of Coventry Logistics Park for £140,415,000, one of the highest quality multi-let logistics schemes in the UK.

Coventry Logistics Park comprises three newly constructed logistics units with a total GIA of 784,989 sq. ft on a site extending to 43 acres. The Property is fully let to three tenants; DHL, Geodis and Viad, with a weighted average unexpired lease term (WAULT) of 11.81 years and was fully pre-let during construction. The asset generates a rent of £6,540,132 per annum and is secured against strong tenant covenants with all three leases comprising attractive rent review mechanisms capturing the higher of open market value or CPI index linked increases.

The property has achieved one of the highest BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ ratings in the UK and all three units have A EPC ratings. Other key sustainability credentials include photovoltaic panels situated on all three roofs, air source heat pumps used as the primary source of heating for the warehouse areas, a high provision of electric vehicle charging points and both communal and demised cycle storage across the site. The asset recently won Best Overall Scheme in the Logistics Park category at the IAS Awards 2023.

Coventry Logistics Park is located to the north east of Coventry city centre, a core logistics location within the context of the ‘Golden Triangle’. The site is strategically situated 0.7 miles from Junction 2 of the M6 motorway which provides excellent connectivity to the M69, M42 and M1 motorways. The core nature of the location is supported by the strong tenant line up.

Tom Royston, Director at DTZ Investors commented: “Coventry Logistics Park is a high quality multi-let logistics asset that is well aligned to the fund’s investment strategy. The property benefits from an excellent specification and is market leading in terms of its sustainability credentials. The low average passing rent, in conjunction with reversionary potential and the attractive rent review mechanisms, results in the asset forecast to deliver an attractive risk-adjusted return.”

James Fairweather, Head of Industrial & Logistics Investment at BNP Paribas Real Estate added: “We are delighted to have advised DTZ Investors on this prime logistics transaction which reinforces the desirability of ‘best-in-class’, sustainable, logistics property in a market constricted in supply. Coventry is a premier logistics location as demonstrated by the depth in occupational demand and continued rental growth, particularly for the highest quality units which this property offers.”

BNP Paribas Real Estate advised DTZ Investors on the purchase whilst DTRE acted for Bericote and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives.

London DCs offer Flexibility, Quality, Location

Posted on 26 September, 202329 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Prologis UK, a leading logistics property owner, developer and investor, is further expanding its portfolio with the completion of two new high-quality units, DC5 and DC6, at Prologis Park West London, which are ready to let. Situated at a prime logistics location, both properties benefit from excellent transport links into West and Central London.

Demand for high-quality, sustainable logistics space is growing and to meet customers’ needs, Prologis UK is investing in speculative development to provide the right space in the right locations. The new units at Prologis Park West London also benefit from best-in-class sustainability features as standard and short-term, flexible lease options.

Comprising 194,433 sq. ft., and 143,053 sq. ft. respectively, DC5 and DC6 have been designed with optimal energy efficiency in mind. Both exceed net zero carbon targets in construction, with an EPC A+ rating and BREEAM Excellent. In addition, both units have a ready-to-use rooftop array of solar panels, with a generating capacity of 227kWp (DC5) and 198kWp (DC6). They also benefit from energy efficient VRF heating and cooling systems.

To ensure the move-in process is as smooth as possible, Prologis Essentials offers a range of specialist services to help customers to fit out the new space and tailor the unit according to their needs.

As well as having strong access links, both units overlook the Grand Union Canal, opposite Stockley Park, providing external recreational opportunities and local amenities for employees and the local community.

Prologis Park West London benefits from direct access to the major consumer markets of West and Central London, Heathrow Airport and Thames Valley. Close to the M4, M25 and M40, DC5 offers 30 HGV spaces, and DC6 offers 18 HGV spaces. Both units have electric cycle charging infrastructure in situ offering emission-free transportation for employees and visitors, as well as ready-to-use ducting for EV fleets.

Jason Pickering, Director, Capital Deployment & Leasing at Prologis UK, said: “These high-quality, sustainable units and their unique package of features and services, demonstrate our commitment to exceeding our customers’ expectations. What we are offering here is excellence in three key areas – flexibility, quality and location.

“Prologis Park West London boasts best-in-class sustainability features, delivering a high-quality, sustainable specification as standard. In addition to this it is a great accomplishment to have built both units Beyond Net Zero Carbon Construction, positively contributing to our customers’ net zero journeys.”

Customers Fuel Logistics Property Growth

Posted on 10 August, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Potter Space, a market leader in the small to mid-box (sub 100k sq. ft.) industrial and logistics property sector, has recently welcomed a new customer to its Ely business park in Cambridgeshire, UK.

Moving into Unit 24 at the Cambridgeshire business park, MLH Transport is a leading transport operator delivering freight services throughout the UK and Europe, and will occupy a warehouse housing expanded pallet and vehicle storage operations. The move continues the growth of Ely as a strategic location for Potter Space, alongside its four other business parks nationally.

Alongside MLH, Potter Space has also agreed a five-year lease extension for longstanding customer, International Decorative Surfaces (IDS), formerly part of Saint Gobain. The UK’s largest distributor of decorative surfaces such as flooring and worktops, IDS already occupies over 85,000 sq. ft. of industrial space at the Ely business park, with a new agreement in place to expand their footprint, taking their space close to 100,000 sq. ft.

Having both excellent road and rail links and being close to both the ports of Harwich and Felixstowe, Potter Space Ely is within easy reach of Northampton, Norwich, London, Cambridge, Newmarket and Peterborough. Stretching over 70 acres, the industrial units vary in space from 3,000 sq. ft. to 83,000 sq. ft., providing homes for a wide range of businesses.

Chris Collins, head of asset management at Potter Space, said: “It’s always exciting to welcome new customers to our parks, but it’s even better when we can extend our long-term relationship with another at the same time. At all of our sites, we strive to provide a home for business for our customers and we can’t wait to both welcome MLH Transport, and see IDS develop even further.”

Debbie Davis, general manager at International Decorative Surfaces Ely, said: “Renewing the lease for our units and increasing our occupied space at Potter Space Ely has been a crucial part of our growth plan. The business park provides all the space and security that we need to carry out our operations, safe in the knowledge that we are in good hands. Potter Space is a supportive partner, which goes above and beyond, all the time.”

Potter Space has invested £18 million into growing its nationwide property portfolio over the next five years to meet the demand for small to mid-box warehousing space across the country and is currently developing 250 acres of land. Potter Space’s five business parks occupy a total of 1.6 million sq. ft. across a range of commercial properties, including industrial units and offices, and are located in Ely, Ripon, Droitwich, Selby and Knowsley.

Potter Space owns, develops, and operates five business parks in Ripon, Droitwich, Knowsley, Selby, and Ely. The business manages more than 1.6m square feet of existing commercial space at close to 100% occupancy and with many long-standing customers. Knowsley, Selby and Ely business parks also have successful rail terminals, fully utilised by Potter Space customers.  Potter Space continues to aim for a minimum BREEAM ‘Very Good’ accreditation on all future buildings, prioritising sustainability, biodiversity, health and wellbeing across all 5 business parks. Providing customers with a ‘Home for Business’ is the number one priority for Potter Space.

Prologis UK Appoints New Director

Posted on 21 June, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Darren Freed has joined Prologis UK as a Director within the Real Estate and Customer Service team in a newly created role for the company. He joins the UK’s leading owner, developer and investor of logistics property with 20 years of experience in asset and fund management.

Previously employed by Aviva Investors as a Director of Real Assets, Freed successfully repositioned assets totalling £2bn assets under management across Aviva Investors’ real estate business.

Specialising in commercial real estate development and JV stakeholder management, he was previously responsible for managing a range of asset classes in UK real estate and running a team of asset managers across a variety of funds.

His new role will create and execute strategies to maximise income and capital returns and his experience will grow Prologis UK’s Asset Management team, with a focus on deployment of strategic business planning, placemaking, and value-add opportunities.

Freed will also deploy these skills to ensure assets earmarked for redevelopment are capable of being converted to sites ready for capital deployment. This will target lifecycle asset management through repositioning older assets and working with the variety of stakeholders to drive occupancy, value, and NOI improvements.

Prior to Aviva, Freed was formerly at Hammerson and JLL. Darren is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Prologis, Inc. is a global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. At March 31, 2023, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 1.2 billion square feet (113 million square meters) in 19 countries. Prologis leases modern logistics facilities to a diverse base of approximately 6,600 customers principally across two major categories: business-to-business and retail/online fulfilment.

Logistics Property Firm Appoint Poland MD

Posted on 9 January, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

The Accolade group, which invests in premium industrial and logistics property, has a new addition to its team. Jarek Wnuk, with his more than 21 years of experience in the commercial property sector, is the new Managing Director for Poland. He has previously worked for international real estate agency and global investment and development companies.

“I’ve been following the success Accolade have had in building a portfolio of modern industrial parks for a long time now. In terms of industrial, logistics, and manufacturing infrastructure, the Polish market is one of the fastest growing in Europe. With that in mind, I consider the consolidation and development of Accolade’s position in that market a significant challenge which I’m looking forward to immensely.” said Jarek Wnuk, who, in his role as Managing Director for Poland, will be responsible for managing Accolade‘s activity in Poland as well as the development of the project portfolio and finally for the preparation and implementation of fundraising activities.

“From a strategic perspective, Poland is a very important market with huge potential and I believe that Jarek’s extensive experience in the commercial property sector will be an enormous plus for us,” remarked Accolade Group CEO, Milan Kratina. Accolade owns 26 logistics parks in Poland, the total leasable area of which is approaching 1.5 million m². The group has so far invested nearly 28 billion CZK (over a billion EUR) in Poland and are planning to plough a further 12 billion CZK (around half a million EUR) into Polish activities.

Before joining Accolade, Jarek Wnuk was General Manager and a member of the board at private equity firm Bluehouse Capital. Previously, he held senior management positions at logistics and property companies Goodman and King Sturge. Jarek Wnuk graduated from the Faculty of Finance and Banking at the Warsaw School of Economics, along with completing a year of study at the College of Estate Management in Reading.

Accolade Holding, a.s. operates in six European countries, where it invests in modern and sustainable infrastructure for global e-commerce, manufacturing and logistics brands. It owns a network of 45 BREEAM-certified industrial parks in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovakia, guaranteeing a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. The group has now completed 2.6 million m2 of commercial properties, which it leases to almost 260 tenants worldwide. More than 8 million m2 are in the pipeline.

Accolade also invests in brownfield redevelopment. Their share in the company’s portfolio is currently around one third. A building in the redeveloped compound of Strojírny Cheb became the first project in the Czech Republic to receive the Outstanding grade and a record score of 90.68% according to the BREEAM global sustainability rating. In 2014, the group established the Accolade Industrial Fund (Accolade Fund SICAV p.l.c.), an industrial real estate fund open to qualified investors, of whom it now has over 2,800. The value of the fund’s portfolio has exceeded 1.4 billion EUR. It has ranked as the best performing real estate fund in the Czech Top Real Estate Funds ranking several times in a row. In 2017, the group bought the operator of the second busiest airport in the Czech Republic, Brno-Tuřany, and is preparing a polygon near Stříbro to serve as a research centre for the development and certification of autonomous driving vehicles.

Tag: Logistics Property