Arbdn’s 107,000 sq ft warehouse completes in Knowsley

Built by ADI and designed by AJA Architects, the BREEAM Excellent industrial building is now ready for tenants – with several occupiers already registering their interest, according to joint agents Knight Frank and LM6.

Arbdn Property Income Trust funded the delivery of Knowsley 107 on five acres of land at Knowsley Business Park – a 1,200-acre estate sandwiching the A580. Around 600 companies currently operate out of the business park, including B&M, Amazon, DHL, and Matalan.

In addition to having a BREEAM Excellent rating, Knowsley 107 also boasts an EPC score of A. This is, in parts, thanks to a series of photovoltaic panels on its roof that can generate enough energy to power the building’s electric vehicle charging stations.

The 107,000 sq ft structure has 10 bays, 103 parking spaces, and office space.

Work on the scheme began last spring, with planning permission having been secured in November 2022 with the help of Chroma Planning and Development. Abrdn itself had acquired the site that same year through a joint venture with Pembury Real Estate.

Knight Frank industrial partner Sam Royle spoke about why this was a good project to develop speculatively.

“The decision to forward fund and press ahead with this development is now reaping dividends,” Royle said.

“Occupiers looking for highly efficient, high-quality space in a prime location have limited choice and we are talking to a number of forward thinking clients who place great emphasis on ESG,” he continued.

Abrdn deputy fund manager Mark Blyth commented: “Knowsley 107 delivers a best in class asset into a market with limited supply and strong occupational demand.”

In addition to ADI, AJA, and Chroma, the project team for that initial planning application included Steer, Burrows Graham, Yonder, Ecology Solutions, Lowther Forestry Group, Fichtner, and TRC. Its planning application reference number with Knowsley Council is 22/00163/FUL.