Shed of the Month: More than meets the eye

By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters

Possibly the only brand new Grade A immediately available 500,000 ft2 plus warehouse in the Northwest this property is more than meets the eye.

Sometimes travelling to the Northwest can feel like venturing into terra incognita with the myriad of motorways snaking  their way around the region seemingly  without direction – certainly  that is the case for this occasional visitor – despite my own misgivings it takes but a short drive from the M6 main arterial route via the M62  motorway to reach my destination – Mirastar’s X DOCK 549 development sitting  within the Liverpool Freeport – a long way away from my East Anglian homebase.

First impressions on a sunny autumn morning are lifted with the attention to detail and copious well maintained landscaping fronting the building. While it is exactly what it says – a very large warehouse, it is also  aware of the fact that it is very likely to be a headquarters facility as well – and first impressions count.

The handsome office block sits proud of the warehouse space meaning no awkward angles jutting in making  racking  solutions difficult. While there has been no expense spared on the offices which total some 33,981 ft2, you’ll not find floor to ceiling glazing or a glitzy  triple storey atrium space here, rather consideration spent on how the offices can actually work with  private space for conference rooms or private offices situated between the two floors of  open plan office space on either side.

The warehouse space with its 50kn/m2 floor loading is copious with 15m eaves and has cross dock loading with 61 dock (including Euro dock) and 15 level access doors served by two transport office blocks to either side of the building.

But what is standout is the sheer amount of yard space available.

To one side  there is a 100m yard almost like  looking across an infinity pool to the well wooded landscape beyond. Here there is room for 116 trailer bays which in no way hampers a 360 degree circulation. Another 83m yard to the side of the building creates space for a further  32 trailer spaces.

Landscaping around the building  breaks up what could be considered a concrete desert bringing the countryside just that tiny bit closer  – however small it all counts. The building itself sits adjacent to Halebank Park and walks with plenty of footpaths and cycle ways.

From a sustainability point of view the property has been built net zero carbon and has achieved a BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+ rating, in addition it has a large 999kWp rooftop solar array which could produce up to 820,000 kwh a year – a substantial saving when electricity costs are soaring.

But that is not the only benefit that could accrue from taking the facility.

As it also sits within the Liverpool Freeport Zone qualifying occupiers could  benefit from 100% business rates relief until September 30, 2031, and 0% Stamp Duty Land Tax until the same date.

Eligible businesses could also claim enhanced capital allowances on buildings and machinery. Additionally, there are incentives for employment and skills, such as 0% employer National Insurance contributions for new hires up to a certain salary threshold.

There are also customs benefits  including simplified import/export procedures, duty exemption for exported goods, and VAT suspension on goods until they leave the tax site.

Definitely food for thought especially as those could save £12.5 million – proving that there is more than meets the eye with this facility….

X DOCK 549

Developer: Marshalls CDP

Investor/landlord: KKR and Mirastar

Letting Agents: Savills and Cushman & Wakefield

Units size: 551,693 ft2

Power: up to 2.4MvA + Solar PV system 999kwp

Sustainability: BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+