EXCLUSIVE: Amazon-like XXL build-to-suit warehouse planned for Taunton
A 2 million ft2 plus XXL build-to-suit warehouse is being proposed for an 84 acre greenfield site off Junction 25 of the M5 Motorway to the east of Taunton, Somerset with intitial proposals typical of the new generation Amazon warehouses being brought forward in Northampton, Melton near Hull and at Caddick’s 4.5 million ft2 EM.EX Worksop scheme in the East Midlands.
By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters
AT PRESENT proposals for the giant bespoke facility totalling 2.066 million ft2 are only documented in Environment Impact Assessment documents prior to a full planning application being submitted later this year.
However, these proposals indicate a facility with a footprint of 677,049.77 ft2 with at least three mezzanine levels making up the rest of the gross internal area (GIA) of 2.066 million ft2 facility, typical of the new generation large format Amazon warehouses being brought forward in the UK.
FPCR Environmental Design (FPCR) which worked with Amazon to bring forward the 2.012 million ft2 fulfillment facility in Melton West, Hull and the controversial Cleckheaton Amazon scheme in Yorkshire – which was rejected at planning – is working on the Taunton proposals alongside planning consultant Firstplan (whose list of clients also includes Amazon) and SMR Architects which has worked for Amazon on the Melton West scheme, the 3.5 million ft2 state of the art Amazon facility in Wakefield, and the build-to-suit facility in Swansea which Logistics Matters reported on earlier this year.
While the site, known as Nexus 25, already has a Local Development Order attached for employment uses, a full planning application is required because constructing a building in accordance with the LDO and its conditions/parameters would not allow for the future occupier to operate as required.
According to the EIA documents the proposals indicate a standalone full planning application for a single logistics storage warehouse building with 21m to ridge as well as associated vehicular access and road, service roads, operational areas, HGV and car parking, together with green infrastructure of retained habitats, new landscaping and habitat creation.
The operational areas for HGV loading and unloading are expected to be located on the eastern façade of the building with a provision of approx. 187 HGV parking spaces and approx. 628 spaces (including accessible and EV parking spaces). Vehicular access would be taken from the existing A358 roundabout on the Site’s northern boundary and will include a new section of road.
