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ProLogis UK has done the double. Exceptional progress in 2007 has culminated in two top industry titles: Estates Gazette Property Company of the Year – Industrial and Property Week/Industrial Agents Society (IAS) Large Unit Developer of the Year.
The two coveted awards were given to ProLogis on the strength of our acquisitions, sustainability projects and memorable leases throughout the judging period.
Undisputed highlights for 2006-7 include the mergers with Severn Trent Property and large sections of Parkridge Holdings – including Astral, the UK arm of Parkridge’s logistics development business. The Parkridge deal earned us the PW/IAS title of Investment Deal of the Year and has helped to confirm our market leadership both in the UK and on the continent.
ProLogis is also celebrating the construction of Pineham in Northamptonshire, reputedly the world’s most sustainable distribution warehouse to date (and winner of the first PW/IAS Sustainable Achievement – Green Award). Meanwhile, ProLogis has secured some excellent land and property deals with world-class customers. The lease to AS Watson of its new Southern Distribution Centre won the PW/IAS award Lease Deal of the Year and you can read about it further down the page.
“We are delighted to win these significant awards, which recognise the continued growth and progress of our UK operation,” says ProLogis UK Managing Director, Alan Curtis. “The highly-coveted Industrial Development Company of the Year Award, organised by the Estates Gazette, is judged on-line from a short list, so it is particularly gratifying that our peer group regards us as ‘Best in Class’.
“The IAS Award is also granted by our peers in the industry and we are honoured to win for the second year running. Both these titles belong to the entire UK team, along with our professional advisors and suppliers. This is a result of great teamwork.”
The annual EG awards were staged at Grosvenor House in London and hosted by comedian Jack Dee. There were more than 1,400 attendees. The 2007 IAS awards, organised by Property Week magazine, were hosted by comedian Omid Djalili and attracted a crowd of more than 600 to the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane.
All done at Dunstable
Cinram Logistics UK, Europe’s largest distributor of CDs and DVDs, has leased a 240,775 sq ft distribution centre at ProLogis Park Dunstable. This means the scheme is 100% let six months after completion, creating around 800 jobs in an area in need of inward investment.
The beauty of the 39 acre, brownfield site was its potential for large footprint buildings in an area that has rarely had the opportunity to satisfy such demand. This was once the home of the Bedford Trucks manufacturing plant, employing up to 9,000 people before it closed in 1983. Today the land – 1.5 miles from Junction 11 of the M1 and close to Luton airport – falls into a government Assisted Area in need of regeneration.
With the help of the local economic development team at South Bedfordshire District Council, we obtained planning for a total of 775,000 sq ft and decided to build speculatively. On-site works included decommissioning electricity substations, major ground remodelling and site clearance, removing asbestos and demolishing an old water tower – an event which attracted thousands of onlookers.
DC1 (536,000 sq ft) earned a coveted BREEAM “Excellent” rating for its environmental performance and was let to British health and beauty retailer AS Watson. ProLogis Park Dunstable also earned a commendation in the South Beds Urban Design Awards.
Another reason to shop at Morrisons
Morrisons, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket chain, has leased a 281,650 sq ft warehouse with 20,350 sq ft of offices at ProLogis Park Swindon.
Defying market perceptions, ProLogis bought 31.5 acres of B8 land near Swindon in December 2004. The new acquisition was conveniently located at South Marston Park, Swindon’s established distribution hub five miles north of junction 15 of the M4. The decision was immediately vindicated with a pre-sale to Honda for its UK headquarters and state-of-the-art distribution centre. This 350,000 sq ft warehouse was completed at the end of 2005.
Four smaller plots totalling 10 acres were also part of the deal and sold over a 12-month period for industrial and office use.
Wm Morrison Produce Ltd employs more than 130,000 people in its factories, distribution centres, offices and more than 360 stores across the country. The company, which took over 220 Safeway stores in 2004, has a rolling programme for new supermarkets.
DC2 is the largest speculative warehouse the region has seen for some years and will serve Morrisons’ stores throughout the south west. It creates around 300 new jobs in the area (this was not a re-location.)
This is our second deal with Morrisons: the retailer bought a 450,000 sq ft ProLogis warehouse in Northampton in 2004.
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IAS Awards - October 2007 |
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