Shed of the Month April: Hot to Trot

By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters

There’s a sense of anticipation among property agents in the Northwest  – actually everywhere – that despite recent geopolitical events, occupiers are keen to hit the decision button and snap up the best quality warehouse space while they still can – or indeed while stock lasts…

 

Unit 2 Symmetry Park, Huyton, Merseyside L35 1QR

Developer: Tritax Big Box

Letting agents: CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Newmark

Unit size: 273,157 ft2

Type: Speculative

Power: up to 6MvA

Sustainability: BREEAM Excellent and EPC A

 

Early start from North Yorkshire to traverse the highest motorway in England, the M62 taking in glorious views across Saddleworth before joining the rest of humanity snarled up in traffic jams  round the Croft Interchange where the M62 meets the M6 motorway and worrying that Tia the Lab(rador) assistant and I would be late for the launch of Tritax Big Box’s latest speculative development in the Northwest. Once past the snarl up – which I hit at peak commuter – and the rest of the journey was a bit disappointing in the fact that instead of battling traffic, it was unbelievably quick and simple.

Just in time for breakfast and an endless supply of sausages which seemed to make their way with remarkable alacrity into Tia’s stomach. Luckily she was not overtly distracted and happily joined our host Tritax Big Box development director Kate Howe to explore what else there was on offer.

It never ceases to surprise me how bright these buildings are, even without the LED lights on – admittedly they are not racked out but even so, the property only has 10% roof lights. Much of the daylight comes pouring in via the vertical polycarbonate glazing cunningly designed to occur at intervals on the façade that will match racking aisle gaps – once installed – allowing penetration of natural daylight through the warehouse.

The sense of space created is enhanced via the barrel roof design allowing maximum use of the 15m eaves height.

Indicative racking plans suggest up to 53,552 pallet space for very narrow aisle and 40,112 for wide aisle.

The main warehouse totals some 254,957 ft2 with 25 Hormann dock levellers of which 10 are Euro dock, and four level access doors of which one is a jumbo sized, served by a 50m concrete yard with parking for 38 HGVs. There is a 3,519 ft2  two storey hub, which along with the 325 ft2 gatehouse is fitted out to the same standard as the 14,356 ft2 Grade A two storey integrated offices.

Howe said: “It’s a matter of pride for us to ensure that the same quality of fit out is installed across all communal space be it the main offices or the  gatehouse – its attention to detail.”

As a developer, Tritax is always looking to evolve its build specification and will tweak it with every build. In this case it has looked at the main stairway leading up  to the first floor offices which finish overlooking the double height atrium.

“We’ve made it wider to allow two people  to walk up at the same time,” said Howe, “no  one has to stop a conversation.”

It’s the small details that count.

While ostensibly a building for logistics use , the reality these days is that many of them will be used as head and regional offices as well and as such must  be fit  for purpose not just to impress visiting clients but also as a smart welcoming  place for all employees.

 

Visiting letting agents were of the opinion that such space is not expected to be on the market for long despite take-up figure in Q1 2026 down quarter-on-quarter. They are looking to the number of properties in serious discussions and/or under offer especially for  larger units and the fact that there have been record numbers of viewings all round.

Indeed, DTRE reported that its industrial and logistics team carried out a total of 265 viewings across 18.2m ft2 in Q1 with the Northwest accounting for 45% of total inspections and cementing its position as the most active I&L market nationally.

Such is the confidence in the market that Tritax Big Box is positioning itself to speculatively develop the last two units at Symmetry Park Merseyside – to the extent that up in the offices, a decal was put on one of the windows showing the would-be view of the proposed new buildings.

Right now, there is still a chance for those looking for a design and build solution up to 445,000 ft 2 to get in touch – but Tritax is hoping to go vertical with the new space at the end of the Summer. This will be made up of two unit one of 211,00 ft2 and the other 285,00 ft2.

The whole four unit scheme (of which two are currently built out  with one let to InPost) will total some 1 million ft2 and Unit 2 benefits from directly overlooking the 65-acre country park currently being created in partnership with The Land Trust to help rejuvenate the former Cronton Colliery it will be criss-crossed with nature trails and cycling paths meandering round the park with its extended lake network and open to the whole community – a real boon for wellbeing and of course, dog walking…