Kenny-Levick to lead Avison Young’s Manchester industrial team

Julien Kenny-Levick has taken the helm of the agency’s Manchester-based logistics division as the market remains resilient, with an estimated 2m sq ft of deals on track to complete before the end of the year.

Kenny-Levick has made a name for himself in the industrial sector, having previously led agency teams at Roger Hannah and Colliers. His past clients have included Lidl, Whistle, and Asda.

“We’re delighted to be joined by someone of Julien’s experience and standing within the sector at what is a pivotal time for the North West’s industrial and logistics market,” said Chris Cheap, principal and managing director of transactions at Avison Young.

“In just the first six months of the year, we’ve seen 1.8m sq ft of deals across sheds larger than 50,000 sq ft and a new headline rent set in Warrington,” Cheap continued.

“We’re excited to leverage Julien’s experience to facilitate some landmark deals as we settle into the second half of the year.”

At Avison Young’s Manchester office, Kenny-Levick will be working with director Simon Hampson and senior surveyor Jack Rodgers. Together, the trio will advise clients on disposals, acquisitions, and lease agreements.

Kenny-Levick will be paying special attention to aiding GLP Europe and Greater Manchester Pension Fund in their development sites in the region. For GLP Europe, this includes G-Park in Skelmersdale, which has availability for build-to-suit units between 100,000 and 260,000 sq ft. For GMPF, this includes Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.

Reflecting on his new role, Kenny-Levick said: “I’m excited to have joined Avison Young during a period of significant growth for the business, working alongside my new colleagues to establish Avison Young’s Manchester industrial team as one the best in the North West.

“I’m looking forward to growing the services we offer to our clients and collaborating on some exciting new projects as the industrial sector continues to grow.”

The region has seen a flurry of activity over the past year, with research from BOX4 Real Estate pointing out that around 775,000 sq ft of space was signed for in June alone.

On the investment side of things, £532m of industrial deals were recorded in the first half of the year, according to B8 Real Estate.

Market resilience is expected to continue, especially as the government has outlined its own plans to bolster growth in the sector. The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, released in June, pledged support for advanced manufacturing clusters in the North.

“The industrial sector has been identified as a key priority within the government’s recent industrial strategy, and we’re seeing increased demand from clients,” said David Wilmer, principal and managing director of industrial and logistics at Avison Young.

“In the North West, the occupier base is diverse, and Julien’s experience will be incredibly valuable in helping us deliver best-in-class advisory, consultancy and wider services to our clients.”

Avison Young’s Manchester office is the base for 120 staff. The global real estate consultancy has 11 UK offices, including hubs in Leeds, Liverpool, and Newcastle.