Acting on behalf of property developers, institutions, and property companies, we research, appraise and acquire land and buildings for brand new property development – from headquarters offices to courtyard office schemes – as well as regeneration of former buildings and refurbishment of existing office buildings.
Location: Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
Client: The DL Pension Fund
Size: 128,000 sq ft
KWB was instructed to advise on the development – and also to market the available space – of Abbey Park, a new Grade ‘A’ office development of five buildings within a unique 60-acre landscaped Grade 2 listed parkland setting.
This, the second phase of construction, which KWB has advised on, will see the construction of an initial 36,177 sq ft office building, to be part of an eventual total offering in excess of 128,000 sq ft of offices on the site.
Phase 1 of Abbey Park included head offices for AGCO (formerly Massey Ferguson) and The British Horse Society.
This substantial property development, which offers a specification that meets the needs of the modern occupier, is well suited to the market in this area and at this time. Warwickshire is popular with occupiers that have international, national and regional concerns and operations – due to its central location and its proximity to the M40 and an array of transport links.
With our understanding of the site, its location and the market, we were able to provide invaluable information and insight on the size, design, and specification of the build, as well as advising on the rental expectations.
The marketing of this new build opportunity, which KWB has helped to package, offers an ‘oven ready’ solution – giving assurance to any interested parties that design, planning, and procurement are in place. This means these elements do not represent any timescale or viability concerns.
Location: Redditch, Worcestershire
Client: A&H Construction & Developments
Size: 21,500 sq ft
KWB acquired this site on behalf of its client and advised on the property development of 12 new small industrial units, ranging from 1,500 sq ft to 3,000 sq ft with the ability to combine units. The site’s development benefited from the detailed understanding – held by KWB’s industrial property team – of the market, and of the site’s potential place within it.
KWB recognised that the West Midlands industrial market is suffering from a significant shortage of smaller industrial units – and that the contrast between supply and demand has begun to have a real impact on the expansion and relocation plans of businesses in the region. The result of this is that new build projects represent sound investment opportunities – when devised and specified correctly.
The sizing of the individual units played an important part in the development’s positioning – by providing smaller, high quality, new industrial units, it could address an area of the market which has been in great need of stock. This is because few commercial property developers are willing to build industrial units in the 1,500 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft size range where the shortage is greatest.
We were also able to advise on whether space should be offered on a freehold or leasehold basis, by way of a thorough evaluation of the market, and the leasehold and freehold expectancies with regards to the price per square foot.
Having assisted with the specification of the property, we were then instructed to market the industrial units at Crescent Trade Park, Redditch.
Location: Solihull, West Midlands
Client: BAM Properties
Size: 170,000 sq ft
Instructed prior to construction, KWB advised on FORE, one of the largest speculative office developments on the M42, taking advantage of a shortage of high-grade office space in this sector. FORE’s profile and identity were guaranteed due to 75,000 cars per day driving past the site.
As a speculative property development in this area, the construction of the first two buildings was a well-informed decision. With KWB’s advice, FORE was positioned to address the needs of the top end of the market with the location, specification and layout suited to the larger office space requirements of corporate occupiers.
Rated BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and situated in one of the last remaining and sought after central locations in the UK, this 17-acre landmark site benefited from sustainable design, excellent on-site car parking, and a unique office parkland setting, making it ideal for new headquarters-style offices. Hugely prominent and highly visible from the M42, this new business park in Solihull had branding and visual identity opportunities that were without comparison.
KWB secured significant lettings at the property, most notably a 10-year lease to UTC Aerospace Systems of 25,562 sq ft, 10,400 sq ft to BAM Facilities Management, and 8,900 sq ft to ArcelorMittal.
Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Client: Maximus
Size: 45,000 sq ft
KWB advised on the design, build and specification of this new office park located close to the M5 and M42, which – after an evaluation of the office market by KWB – was determined to be offered to occupiers as a freehold opportunity.
Recognising that South Birmingham and Bromsgrove were deprived of high quality office space, was a key motivator for the development’s construction and specification. With the office drought and prosperity of the area, there is popular demand in the Bromsgrove area for freehold offices – securing long term occupancy as well as a sound investment for the occupier.
Transactions at Topaz were frequent, eventually bringing the property to a point of being fully income producing.
Bromsgrove continues to suffer from a shortage of available office space, and KWB advises that similar new build projects and refurbishment projects represent strong investment opportunities.
Location: Solihull
Client: Maximus
Size: 32,786 sq ft
KWB was instructed on the £9 million Solihull courtyard office development prior to construction, to advise on size, design, specification and rental expectations.
Quartz Point is well connected, situated at the hub of the UK’s motorway network, namely junction 6 of the M42, and with Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International train station in close proximity. It also benefits from the wealth of amenities in the local area such as Resorts World and the National Exhibition Centre.
We assisted in the positioning of Quartz Point to provide highly flexible office space available on a leasehold or ‘virtual freehold’ basis for owner occupiers or ‘buy-to-let’ investors looking to purchase.
The Quartz Point scheme is located adjacent to Birmingham Business Park, the most prominent business park in the Midlands, which houses a wide range of larger occupiers. In contrast, Quartz Point comprises 12 units sized between 2,309 sq ft and 3,090 sq ft, housing companies of 20 to 30 staff and addressing the needs of SME occupiers.
