Double deal delight for KWB’s Kenny Allan

KWB’s Kenny Allan has completed two freehold industrial space deals, involving ambitious companies looking to grow their turnover and workforce, in the Black Country.

As director of our industrial team, Kenny specialises in logistics, distribution and warehouse space across the Black Country and the whole of the West Midlands.

Kenny’s first deal saw Access Products (Midlands) Ltd, or APL Midlands, which manufactures, repairs and sells aluminium structures, acquire a 34,500 sq ft unit on Aldridge’s Middlemore Lane. The family-owned company from Brownhills is now refurbishing the space.

Managing Director, Sarah Crump says the site is now APL’s head office, and recruitment of skilled staff is underway to meet the demands of new and existing customers.

Kenny’s second deal saw a property company pay more than £1.3 m to take 16,000 sq ft of warehouse space – also on Middlemore Lane – which is now under offer to another fast-growing local business.

He was also joint agent with Wolverhampton-based agents Bulleys, on the recent sale of a three-acre site at J10 of the M6 (known as Paragon 10) to a local developer.

Middlemore Lane West, which links Walsall to Aldridge, was home to the massive GKN Driveline plant for more than 50 years and the company’s decision to quit the town was a major employment blow.

However, Kenny points out that the area has since attracted multiple local companies in the warehousing, storage and distribution sectors.

“The fundamental strengths of this market haven’t changed over the years. There’s a large labour pool, excellent connectivity locally via the A454, and regionally and nationally via J10 of the M6 and the M6 Toll Road,” he says.

“The biggest challenge is finding suitable freehold space for growing companies, who are based in the Black Country and don’t want to risk losing their existing employees by expanding outside the area.

“Demand always runs ahead of supply, so the competition for any significant amount of space is always very strong, and it’s very satisfying to have completed two freehold deals – and to be involved with a major site disposal – in such a short period.”

For more information on the availability of leasehold and freehold industrial space in Birmingham and the West Midlands, contact Kenny Allan on 0121 212 5996 or email kallan@kwboffice.com.