Warehouse takes shape (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Warehouse takes shape

A WAREHOUSE firm is about to begin work on the largest speculative scheme ever built in Swindon.

ProLogis Developments, which is the UK's largest developer of distribution warehouses has acquired the remaining 42 acres of land at the South Marston Park and is about to begin the building of a 298,700 ft warehouse.

The building will be one of the biggest under construction in the South West this year and should be complete by spring 2006.

It will have an eaves height of 12 metres. It will also have 24 dock level doors, six level access doors and will also include 21,000 square feet of offices as well as 150 car parking spaces and a further 48 parking spaces for lorries.

The company has already secured a deal with car firm Honda to build a 350,000 sq ft distribution facility.

The warehouse project, which is one of the firm's first forays into the west of England says it is beginning to see a severe shortage of land in the South East and the East Midlands and this, together with the increasing demand for bigger sheds, has prompted the company to turn its eyes to the west.

First vice-president Paul Weston said: "We were delighted to secure the sale to Honda Logistics.

"We faced fierce competition from other sites locally but our customer focus and proven ability to deliver won the day.

"There is a high level of interest in Swindon as a distribution centre for the south and south west of the country and the speculative scheme is already attracting the attention of a significant number of potential occupiers."

ProLogis at South Marston Park is part of the company's development programme to ensure it has new facilities available at the country's best distribution locations.

Knight Frank and King Sturge are joint agents.

Anthony Osborne