The waste management sector is continuing to show strong levels of activity with King Sturge letting a 208,000 ft² (19,323 m²) high bay warehouse facility at Fusion, Electric Park, Trafford Park, Manchester to Biffa Waste Services.

Biffa is taking on the property on a 20-year lease at a rate of £4.75 per ft². King Sturge acted for Legal and General and Biffa was represented by Boddy and Edwards.

The facility is located off Westinghouse Road in Trafford Park and has easy access to the M60 and M602. The warehouse has an eaves height of 15 metres, 65 kN/m² (1,000 lbs/ft²) floor loading and a 50-metre goods yard.

Work will begin in August to develop a state-of-the art recycling plant scheduled to be operational in January 2010. The plant will process 200,000 tonnes of waste materials per annum and achieve recycling rates of over 90%; it will use a combination of mechanical and optical sorting systems and its operation will be highly automated.

King Sturge’s Steve Johnson said: “Biffa has taken one of the largest speculative developments over one single building available and is going to develop the most advanced recycling plant in the UK. We’re delighted because this facility will have a major impact on recycling levels and create jobs in the area.”