St Modwen rethinks Avro Park
St Modwen has dropped plans for an office and industrial complex of small units on the 10-acre Avro Park site in Trafford Park in favour of marketing the land for a single 'big box' distribution occupier.
The developer had planned 162,000 sq ft of office and light industrial space at the site, which fronts Mosley Road next to the Bridgewater Canal and the 360,000 sq ft warehouse developed by St Modwen for Adidas.
However, Paul Batho, of St Modwen, said the planning consent in place would not now be taken up: "The Avro Park site has been cleared and is ready for large scale development, subject to [a new] planning consent. It's an excellent location for distribution and logistic companies of which there have been an increasing number in recent times, as it offers a string of important benefits such as availability of labour and quick access to three motorway junctions."
David Brooks, of King Sturge, who is advising St Modwen, said recent distribution deals with Kelloggs, L'Oreal and Adidas had created a shortage of opportunities for logistics firms in the Trafford Park area.
He said: "The situation has led St Modwen to re-consider its development proposals for Avro Park and it is now seeking an occupier in the logistics sector who requires between 100,000 sq ft and 220,000 sq ft."
