South Central: Construction at £30m development nears completion
Works at Southampton’s £30 million south central development are set to complete in the next few weeks as the park prepares to open to occupiers, bringing an estimated 750 jobs to the region.
Construction at the development’s 116,895 sq ft Unit 1 (pictured) and 39,075 sq ft Unit 2 is almost complete, while John Lewis Partnership is making final preparations to move into the completed Unit 3, which will be used as a 46,080 sq ft regional distribution centre.
Industrial property specialists at Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), joint agents for the scheme with JLL, report high levels of interest in the remaining two units and are in talks with several potential occupiers. The scheme was recently acquired by LaSalle Investment Management.
Adrian Whitfield, director, industrial and logistics at LSH’s South Coast offices, said: “This is an excellent high-quality development of a size that has not been seen in the region for more than a decade, so there is considerable excitement around the opening of South Central. We are in talks with a number of potential occupiers for Units 1 and 2 who are impressed with their quality and the development’s outstanding transport links. There is generally an upbeat feeling about the region’s economy, large-scale enterprises such as this, which bring huge employment benefits to the area, are part of the reason for that.”
Jonathan Manhire, associate director at JLL Southampton office, added: “This development’s speculative nature underlines the confidence that remains in the economy in the south, and we are excited to welcome the first occupiers when the development opens on target in July.”
Units 1 and 2 at South Central are built to Grade A specification and include dock and level access loading doors, 11-metre eaves, large secure self-contained yard and full access raised floor offices.
The site’s location, within two miles of Dock Gate 20 of the Port of Southampton, its 24/7 hours of operation and close transport links to the M27 and M271, make it ideally suited to occupiers in the distribution, storage and manufacturing sectors.
