Commercial and industrial property group, Goodman, have set out plans to transform Vauxhall after-sales warehouse into 1.2 million ft2 prime sustainable logistics development in Luton, Bedfordshire.
The plans for the 60-acre brownfield site will see the existing facilities demolished and redeveloped to provide up to 1.2 million ft2 of space with pre-let opportunities from 200,000ft2. Work on the scheme is expected to start in 2023 subject to planning.
Goodman’s vision for the site is to deliver a high quality commercial park, combining sustainably designed warehouse space with extensive landscaping to provide customers with modern facilities in an attractive workplace environment.
Goodman will take a circular approach to construction, minimising waste and use of resources. This will include reusing existing materials wherever possible, from the recycling of metal roof and wall cladding to the use of recycled aggregates on-site.
The development, which can draw on 7MvA of power, will also utilise renewable energy sources, including full rooftops of solar photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting and electric vehicle infrastructure. All units will be targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and A+ EPC
This latest commitment builds on Goodman’s wider investment in the Bedfordshire region. It has recently completed the second phase of Bedford Commercial Park, a 45-acre development and joint venture with Bedford Borough Council.
Nigel Dolan, Development Director at Goodman, said: “Luton’s excellent connectivity, large labour pool and strong performance across sectors including technology, research and development, transport and logistics, makes it an ideal location for investment.
“In line with our brownfield development strategy, Goodman will redevelop this site and create a highly sustainable business and employment destination of exceptional quality, while placing our customers close to large consumer populations and a readily available talent pool. We look forward to driving supply chain efficiencies for our customers in this prime location.”
Adjacent to Junction 11A of the M1 and just 17 miles from the M25, the site’s strategic location makes it ideally placed to serve Greater London and the Midlands, with 27.7 million consumers accessible within a two-hour drive time.
