Columbia Threadneedle plots 235,000 sq ft Airport City warehouses

Plans have been submitted for two new developments at the Manchester Airport site, part of the international asset manager’s strategy to double the logistics capacity at World Freight Terminal.

The first application from Columbia Threadneedle Investments proposes to build four warehouses of a combined 90,000 sq ft. The second application is for 145,000 sq ft of industrial space spread out across 14 units.

Both schemes are to be built to achieve a minimum BREEAM rating of Excellent and EPC rating of A. If the applications are approved by Manchester City Council, demolition of the existing buildings on the site will begin in summer, with construction completing in April 2023.

RPS Group is the project architect for both schemes, while Avison Young is the planning consultant.

While the warehouses are being built speculatively, Columbia Threadneedle said it was already in discussions to fill the space from a number of potential occupiers.

Together, the two applications are focused on 14 acres on either side of Avro Way. They form the second phase of Columbia Threadneedle Investments’ three-year development strategy at the terminal.

The first phase of that strategy is building 85,000 sq ft of warehouses on the corner of Avro Way and Pinfold Lane. Manchester City Council approved those plans in February. Columbia Threadneedle anticipates completing construction on that site in March 2023.

Hailing World Freight Terminal’s Manchester Airport location as a “global gateway to the North of England”, Columbia Threadneedle asset manager Samantha Hadland outlined the group’s ambitions for the site.

“Following the approval of our first planning application, we have embarked on an ambitious development project to completely modernise the adjacent World Freight Terminal, transforming it into a leading logistics warehouse park,” Hadland said.

“With this project we are responding to the increasing freight traffic coming through the airport and capitalising on the strong demand for warehouse units in South Manchester,” she continued.

“Doubling the warehousing space will help serve the booming e-commerce market and drive trade and growth to the region and its businesses. We have already begun work to deliver the first phase of the project and are excited to keep the momentum going with these next two phases of the development.”