Henry Boot Barnfield makes Preston purchase

Henry Boot Developments and Barnfield Construction have acquired an 18-acre site in Preston from the Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund.

The acquisition will see Henry Boot and Barnfield bring forward an industrial development as part of a joint venture, the second such partnership between the two companies, with HB Barnfield currently delivering Beacon 62, an 11.5-acre strategic gateway site in Huyton.

Named East, the project is located at Junction 31A of the M6 in Preston and will deliver industrial and warehouse space, with units ranging from 6,700 sq ft through to 187,000 sq ft. The site already has outline planning permission.

According to Henry Boot, there are already discussions ongoing with several potential occupiers.

Dean Thompson, regional manager of Henry Boot Developments in Manchester, said: “We are bringing East forward at an opportune time given the continued shortage of Grade A industrial and large-scale employment space in the North West, particularly along the M6 corridor.

“It builds further on HBD’s strong track record in delivering top flight industrial schemes, with several currently underway throughout the country, including Markham Vale, a hugely successful flagship development in Derbyshire, and IAMP, a nationally significant project that epitomises the Northern Powerhouse and what it’s all about. Occupiers can rest assured that we understand what really matters when delivering schemes like this – quality will always be central to any HBD project.”

Tim Webber, managing director of Barnfield Construction, said: “The site benefits from an excellent location along the M6 corridor, with almost immediate access to the UK motorway network. It’s an excellent opportunity for occupiers, whether for industrial or warehousing use, and the early interest we have seen is very encouraging. We look forward to securing the first occupier and getting started on site.”