Icon sells airport land to The Hut Group

Icon Industrial has confirmed the sale of an 11.6-acre site at Manchester Airport to online beauty retailer, The Hut Group, as part of the first phase of its £150m logistics park.

The site, also known as Icon, was recently granted planning permission and is set to include 104,000 sq ft of offices over four floors and content creation studios totalling 168,000 sq ft.

Work will start on the development this month and is expected to be completed by July 2020. Winvic Construction has been appointed as contractor.

Icon Industrial, a joint venture between Stoford Developments and TPG Real Estate, acquired 45 acres at Airport City in July 2017. The JV recently secured detailed planning approval for two additional warehouse units of 102,500 sq ft and 138,400 sq ft at the site, known as Icon Manchester Airport.

Icon Industrial’s deal with THG is part of the ecommerce giant’s plans for a new business campus at Manchester Airport, which includes a 280,000 sq ft office at Airport City North, known as THQ. This is phase one of a four-phase development.

Dan Gallagher, joint managing director of Stoford Developments, said: “We’re pleased to have completed a deal with The Hut Group, which both parties have worked hard to complete and this secures the third occupier for the scheme. Icon is an exciting development that will offer unrivalled airport connectivity and will enable THG to reach a worldwide market. Icon Manchester Airport is a rapidly growing global logistics area of Airport City and continues to attract significant demand from potential occupiers keen to relocate here. We look forward to delivering what is a prime warehouse and logistics scheme at the very heart of the Northern Powerhouse, making it one of the highest quality logistics locations in the country.”