Preston’s APTUS gets its first mover

Developers Barnfield Group and HBD have exchanged contracts with building materials provider Kerakoll UK for a 10-acre plot at the APTUS strategic employment site in Lancashire.  Kerakoll has taken the plot with plans to develop a bespoke new building, measuring 150,000 sq ft. Barnfield Construction, the contracting arm of Barnfield Group, will be delivering the facility on behalf of Kerakoll.  The move is expected to help Kerakoll expand its network across both the UK and its Nordic operations. Vivienne Clements, executive director for industrial and logistics at HBD, said: “The deal will act as a catalyst for the delivery of the scheme and demonstrates the continued demand in the market for high-quality, sustainable industrial and logistics space in key strategic locations. “The first unit will take shape this year as infrastructure works start in the spring followed by construction in the summer.” Barnfield and HBD bought the Preston site a year ago with a view to develop 800,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space, in units ranging in size from 25,000 sq ft to 500,000 sq ft. The scheme, which has a GDV of £70m, secured the green light in December last year. APTUS is the jv’s second project in Preston following the £30m sale and completion of Preston East, which was acquired by Titan Investors and counts DPD and DHL among its occupiers.   The agents for APTUS are Gerald Eve, Young & Co and Eckersley Property. Discover which agents have been most active in the Lancashire industrial market so far this year >> Image © Barnfield Group and HBD