JJB review prompts Heywood deal for surplus storage

JJB Sports is taking a 100,000 sq ft unit on Segro's Heywood Distribution Park near Rochdale on a one-year lease.

JJB announcd this week that it was reviewing its stores and may close 50 to 70 of its 410 stores. The Heywood warehouse will be used for the storage of non-current products being removed from its retail outlets.

Alan Stell, JJB estates manager, said: "As a company we have been looking at ways to re-energise our retail business and, as part of this, we are removing last year's stock and putting it into central storage facilities, such as the unit at Heywood before it is distributed to clearance stores.

"HDP met all of our needs in terms of location, high levels of security and flexible accommodation. Equally importantly, Segro was able to respond to our needs promptly and turn the lease around in a very short space of time without making the process complex – as can often be the case."

Daniel Burn, of letting agent King Sturge, added: "JJB approached us with an urgent requirement and we pulled out all the stops to make sure we could accommodate their needs in a very short timescale.

"This latest letting marks a successful letting period at HDP where the over the last three months four deals have been achieved. Undoubtedly, this has to be the strongest run of industrial lettings seen across the region in recent months."

King Sturge and Savills are the joint letting agents on Heywood Distribution Park.