Bristol’s foresight in the 1990s in allowing larger-than-average industrial buildings to go up near Avonmouth has paid off, with two such ‘sheds’ now back on the market, according to a leading commercial property consultant.
The warehouses formerly occupied by logistics group Downton as a distribution base for Gaymers Cider and by the DIY retail Focus at Western Approach near Severn Beach were well ahead of their time, said Russell Crofts, partner at Knight Frank in Bristol.
The buildings, known as WA312, which is 312,000 sq ft, and WA248, at is 248,000 sq ft, are minnows compared to today’s massive warehouses at Avonmouth, which since the 1990s has developed into one of the UK’s leading regional distribution hubs with a list of occupiers reading like a who’s-who of bricks-and-mortar and online retailers and logistics groups.
They are being dwarfed by the area’s new buildings such as the 2.2m sq ft multi-storey Amazon mega-shed to be built at Central Park in Avonmouth and homeware retailer The Range’s 1.2m sq ft distribution centre at Severnside – the size of around 15 Wembley stadiums.
Russell, pictured, said: “Bristol was way ahead of the curve in recognising the role of very large distribution buildings and around 25 years ago a number were built that were greater than 100,00 sq ft in size – unusual and forward thinking at the time, but absolutely what is required in today’s market.
“As a result, there is a thriving market for these warehouses as their initial 25-year lease ends and they again become available. Remarkably, their structure and design are still totally appropriate today and relatively little work is required to bring them up to 2018 standards, which is why there is such a thriving market in buildings like these.”
