EXCLUSIVE: M&S behind moves for a million ft2 plus warehouse at DIRFT
Marks & Spencer is strongly rumoured to be the potential occupier for a 1.2 million ft2 plus facility at Prologis’ RFI DIRFT III scheme in the East Midlands although it is thought contracts have yet to be fully signed and sealed.
By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters
PROLOGIS HAS just been given the go ahead to submit reserved matters planning for the M&S facility following notification that the proposed development did not need an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
It has been widely reported since September last year that M&S is exploring a giant new warehouse in the region to support its booming fashion and homeware online sales growth.
The proposals outlined in West Northamptonshire’s response to the EIA scoping request indicate a huge facility comprising a cross dock warehouse with three storey offices and four two storey hub offices and a two storey security hub office with a total GIA of 1,157,281.83 ft2.
There will be a separate 13,305 ft2 vehicle maintenance unit as well as a recycling and reclamation unit (RRU) associated with the main warehouse building.
The RRU includes a two-storey office and associated gatehouse and has a GIA , including office floorspace and gatehouse of 130,501.65 ft2. It will have 30 dock and one level access door located along its northern elevation. A total of 100 car parking spaces and 57 trailer spaces are to be provided for the RRU, located along the western and northern elevation of the building.
The main M&S warehouse building will be part high-bay and part low-bay. The high-bay element is located to the southern end of the site and will have a maximum ridge height of 33m. The low-bay element will have a maximum ridge height of 23m. It will have 186 dock and four level access doors.
A total of 895 parking spaces are proposed to serve the main warehouse building, including 260 trailer spaces located along the eastern and western boundary of the site. To the north is an area of surface parking which will accommodate circa 635 car parking spaces.
A gatehouse is also proposed to control HGV access.
It is expected that the facility will meet the highest sustainability levels and will likely target BREEAM Outstanding and an EPC A+ rating.
The site comprises part of the existing DIRFT DCO area and has been subject to significant engineering and clearance works preparing the site in association with the development of the DCO area. The site is known as Zone G and has outline consent for up to 1.6 million ft2 of industrial and logistics space. It lies opposite the Royal Mail facility between the soon to be opened new Rail Freight Terminal and the M1 motorway. Access to the site will be via newly created estate roads.
Planning officers for the council noted that: “In all respects the proposal is capable of satisfying the parameters set by the original DCO with the exception of the height of the building.”
This will no doubt be a bone of contention with the expected planning submission as the DCO has a maximum eaves height of 24m. However, elsewhere within the wider DIRFT development, the Tesco National Frozen Distribution Centre has a clear height of 35m.
Logistics Matters has contacted both Prologis and Marks & Spencer for comment.
Only last month Logistics Matters reported exclusively that M&S had secured a 394,000 ft2 cross dock facility at EPTA and Stoford’s Axis Works scheme in Avonmouth as part of its supply chain overhaul and earlier this month Logistics Matters reported that Prologis had submitted plans for a 600,000 ft2 plus mega shed on Plot F at RFI DIRFT III.
Letting agents for the RFI DIRFT III are Savills and JLL.
