Movianto takes nearly 700,000 sq ft across two sites

In one of the largest industrial and logistics deals in the North West this year, healthcare services company Movianto has agreed to take 673,000ft across two sites in Knowsley and St Helens.

Movianto is set to relocate from its existing site at Deacon Park in Knowsley to a 373,000 sq ft unit at Haydock Green in St Helens when the project completes at the beginning of 2019. It has agreed a 15-year lease on the space and is aiming to create around 200 new jobs at the site, which totals 27 acres next to Junction 23 of the M6.

Haydock Green is currently under construction and will also feature a 125,000 sq ft speculative unit; B8 is the retained agent and the scheme has a quoting rent of £6.50/sq ft.

Movianto has also agreed to take 300,000 sq ft elsewhere in Knowsley. The company will move into a unit at Titan, a £35m industrial and manufacturing scheme fronting the East Lancs Road, which will ultimately provide 505,000 sq ft of space, with a further 165,000 sq ft of new build expected to come forward in the future. Movianto was advised by Knight Frank.

Titan was formerly used as KME Group’s copper tube production warehouse before being purchased in 2016, and is undergoing a £12m refurbishment.

B8 and Mason Owen are the agents for this scheme. Jon Thorne of B8 said: “The Haydock Green letting to Movianto represents the North West’s largest industrial letting this year and shows the strength of the market with planning only having been secured on the site less than 12 months ago.

“Haydock Green will be one of the most high-profile sites in the region and we already have strong interest in the speculative unit.  Titan will provide the best second-hand space of its type in the region and we are really excited to see the completion of the building’s transformation.

“We already have strong interest in the balance of the space so hope to announce further lettings in due course.”

Both projects are being brought forward by investor and developer Industrial North West, formerly known as Morley Estates. Debt finance for both transactions was provided by Fairfield Real Estate.