Icon Industrial eyes fifth development at Manchester Airport

A planning application has been submitted for a fifth development at the rapidly growing global logistics area of Manchester’s Airport City.

Icon Industrial – a joint venture between Stoford and TPG Real Estate – has announced plans to develop a new industrial/warehouse unit and accompanying office space at Unit 2 of its Manchester Airport site.

The joint venture has submitted two detailed planning applications for single aspect and cross-dock developments, both are designed to be highly specified to meet the current needs of the logistics occupational market.

If successful, Icon Industrial will develop a single warehouse building of between 398,000 – 459,000 sq ft, with three-storeys of integrated office accommodation and two-storey hub offices.

Dan Gallagher, joint managing director of Stoford Developments, said: “Icon Manchester Airport is a hugely successful scheme that continues to stimulate the Greater Manchester economy through the flexibility the site offers to its tenants. The submission of these applications continues this theme, giving occupiers the ability to choose from a single-sided or cross-docked layout.

“The scheme has understandably attracted significant demand from businesses keen to locate here, given the strong list of existing occupiers and the site’s unrivalled airport connectivity. We believe the proposed development at Unit 2 will provide an excellent opportunity for potential occupiers in a key strategic location and continues the fulfillment of the Airport City masterplan.”

Icon Manchester Airport is a 45-acre build-to-suit logistics park located next to the World Freight Terminal and part of the Manchester Enterprise Zone.

The site offers excellent road, air and rail connections, with immediate access to junction 6 of the M56 motorway and Greater Manchester and benefits from the £290 million A6 Manchester Airport Relief Road linking the A6 and M56.

The scheme is already home to occupiers including Amazon and DHL, with on-site amenities including a BP Petrol Filling Station, Costa Coffee and M&S Simply Food.  Unit 2 is adjacent to several large-scale developments that are being delivered by Icon Industrial at Manchester Airport. They include The Hut Group’s new global logistics and content creation studio and a new state-of-the-art 102,500 sq ft industrial/warehouse that will be home to Alpha LSG’s bonded warehouse operation.

Unit 2 is situated between the M56 and the A538 Wilmslow Road, immediately to the west of the World Freight Terminal. Accessed via a spur off the Sunbank Lane southern roundabout, the development will create a strong focal point that completes the street frontage.

TPG Real Estate and Stoford Developments are building Icon Industrial into a significant logistics platform by acquiring and developing similarly attractive UK sites, as well as refurbishing existing buildings in prime logistics locations.

TPG Real Estate has significant experience investing in logistics while Stoford has completed commercial developments totalling over 14 million sq ft, with a value of over £1 billion, across a diverse range of sectors throughout the UK. Its portfolio includes industrial and distribution warehousing sites, production plants, business parks, offices, retail schemes and hotels.

CAPTION: Indicative CGI of the proposed Unit 2 at Icon Manchester Airport.