St Modwen plans Trafford Park blitz at Avro Park
18 October 2007
KPI Properties, the joint venture partnership between St Modwen Properties PLC and Salhia Real Estate Co, has submitted a detailed planning application for 15,050 m² (162,000 ft²) of office and light industrial accommodation on its 10-acre site in Trafford Park, Manchester. The site immediately adjoins the 33,444 m² (360,000 ft²) warehouse and UK headquarters currently being developed by KPI for adidas.
The new development, to be called Avro Park, will comprise 6,503 m² (70,000 ft²) of front door offices and 8,547 m² (92,000 ft²) of light industrial space set within a well landscaped environment including over 350 new trees. The site fronts Mosley Road and is immediately adjoining the Bridgewater Canal.
Avro Park will be built speculatively in two phases and the first units will be ready for occupation from next summer. The adjoining adidas facility is scheduled to be operational next spring. Paul Batho, of St Modwen, commented: “Trafford Park has consistently proved to be a vibrant market for employment space, increasingly offices. Avro Park will provide a new stream of business accommodation in the heart of the area.
“It has an excellent location adjacent to adidas’ new UK headquarters and we are confident that the development will be well received by the market”.
Chris Mulcahy at retained agents King Sturge, which is advising St Modwen, commented: “Trafford Park over the last two years has emerged as an interesting office location given its proximity to the M60, the Trafford Centre and the established Salford Quays. Occupiers wishing to purchase particularly have found the location good value and given the close motorway links the schemes has attracted occupiers from a wide catchment area.”
The scheme has been named Avro Park to mark the fact that ŒManchester Œ heavy bombers were manufactured on the site by Avro during the Second World War. The Avro Manchester was effectively the predecessor to the more famous Lancaster bomber entering into service in 1940.
