Works starts on 110,000 sq ft Knowsley warehouse

Contractor ADI has been appointed to begin construction on Pembury Real Estate’s distribution centre, transforming the vacant plot off Penrhyn Road at Knowsley Business Park.

Abrdn Property Income Trust is funding the multi-million-pound project, having acquired the five-acre Merseyside site in a joint venture with Pembury last March.

AJA Architects designed the scheme, which will deliver a 107,000 sq ft warehouse designed to an EPC A and ‘excellent’ BREEAM rating.

Named ‘Knowsley 107’, the facility will offer 104,600 sq ft of warehouse space and 5,700 sq ft of office accommodation.

There will be 103 car parking spaces provided, including five accessible, as well as 34 cycle and 10 motorcycle spaces.

Chroma Planning and Development is the planning consultant for the project, which was approved by Knowsley Council last December.

James Wright, managing director of Pembury Real Estate, said: “Once complete, Knowsley 107 will provide a best-in-class, highly specified building, in a supply-constrained market”.

Mark Blyth, deputy fund manager of Abrdn Property Income Trust, added: “The building’s strong environmental credentials align with API’s overall focus on sustainability and, coupled with the high operational specification, should prove attractive to occupiers”.

Knight Frank and LM6 are joint agents for the warehouse, expected to complete by December 2023.

Sam Royle, partner at Knight Frank, said: “The client’s commitment to build Knowsley 107 is excellent news for the region which is experiencing record low vacancy rates.

“Occupiers are increasingly focusing on ESG credentials so the commitment to delivering high specification, energy efficient warehouse space with high sustainability standards will make this one of the most desirable logistics buildings in the region.”

More about the plans can be found by searching for application number 22/00163/FUL on Knowsley Council’s planning portal.