Evans and Harworth to spec build 150,000 sq ft in Leeds

Posted on Oct 24, 2016

EVANS AND HARWORTH ANNOUNCE SPECULATIVE DEVELOPMENT AT REBRANDED GATEWAY 45 LEEDS

Leeds City Region’ largest Manufacturing and Logistics Hub gears up for development

Aire Valley Land LLP, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Harworth Group plc, has announced that it will be speculatively developing c.150,000 sq ft of industrial accommodation at Gateway 45 Leeds – Leeds City Region’s largest advanced manufacturing and logistics base previously known as Temple Green.

With planning permission already in place for c.2.64m sq ft of developed space, the joint venture team has decided to press ahead with speculatively developing two units of 100,000 sq ft and 50,000 sq ft to respond to the lack of quality commercial space in the region and to accelerate plans to bring occupiers to site.  A planning application will be submitted imminently to Leeds City Council to secure reserved matters consent for both units, with construction planned to begin in early 2017 once planning has been granted.  Practical completion of both units should take place within seven months of commencement.

At the same point, the scheme has also been rebranded and relaunched as Gateway 45 Leeds to reflect the 165 acre site’s strategic position at Junction 45 of the M1.  As part of the rebranding process, Gateway 45 Leeds is now being marketed as four zones of North, South, East and West alongside roadside uses, with Evans and Harworth working closely with the agency team of CBRE, Dove Haigh Phillips and Gent Visick to ensure the masterplan of the largest of the four development sites in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone fully reflects present and anticipated market demand.

These developments follow the completion of the £7m first phase of a total £9.1m infrastructure and groundworks investment programme that has created 1.2 km of new dual carriageway, the remediation of 20 acres of land aimed at roadside dealerships and a petrol station in addition to Leeds City Council’s 1000 space Park and Ride transport hub, and enabling direct access to the scheme’s largest development plot that can accommodate a single unit of 500,000 sq. ft.

James Pitt, Development Director of Evans Property Group, said; “The momentum has really gathered in the last six months with the JV partnership with Harworth and our expanded agency team. We are in an extremely strong position to maximise the potential of this outstanding development and our commitment to speculatively developing these units and the effort put into rebranding the scheme to justify its position as one of the North of England’s most important developments is just the beginning of our success story.”

Ian Ball, Executive Director for Income Generation at Harworth Estates, said; “The manufacturing and logistics sectors are in urgent need of new units in strategic locations and Gateway 45 Leeds is in a prime position to capitalise upon that.  By bringing forward two units with all the associated benefits of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, we are meeting the widely reported shortage of industrial space in the region head-on and showing an appetite for delivery which the scheme can build upon.”

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said; “Today’s announcement from Aire Valley Land LLP is fantastic news for the City Region and its manufacturing sector. I’m delighted that Harworth Estates and Evans Property Group have taken the decision to speculatively develop over 150,000 sq ft at Gateway45; it shows how the momentum in the Leeds City Region is continuing to build and that it is becoming a centre of excellence for the manufacturing, logistics and e-fulfilment and printing sectors.

“As the home of the UK’s largest manufacturing base with a number of world class businesses, it’s crucial that we continue to develop the sort of spaces these businesses require and I believe that through this speculative build we will see the future of industrial units come to fruition and attract new and exciting businesses to our dynamic region.”

Mike Baugh, Senior Director of Industrial Agency at CBRE, said; “This is excellent news for Leeds, which is short on supply of good quality industrial and logistics space. Given its prime strategic location within the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, Gateway 45 Leeds will attract strong interest both locally and also from the national market.”

Gateway 45 Leeds sits within the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone – an employment zone fully supported by Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Leeds City Council and the Department of Communities and Local Government that offers occupiers a range of incentives, including Business Rate Relief, to support their move into the region.