JD Sports signs deal for largest warehouse on Kingsway Business Park

High street retailer JD Sports is to move to a purpose built 616,000 sq ft distribution centre on Kingsway Business Park, in one of the most high profile deals the region has seen in the last decade.

Wilson Bowden Developments will build the 616,000 sq ft warehouse with 250,000sq ft of mezzanine space for storage, which will be one of the largest warehouses to be developed in the North West in ten years. Detailed planning consent for the development was granted in January 2009.

The scheme represents a major expansion of the JD Sports distribution operation in the North West and will help secure existing jobs in the borough, as well as offering the potential of significant new job opportunities. JD Sports have not yet announced their detailed plans but these discussions will take place during the construction of this major facility which is expected to commence on site within the next couple of months.

JD Sports and Wilson Bowden have simultaneously completed the forward funding of the site with Canada Life .

Nick Richardson, Managing Director of Wilson Bowden Developments, said: “We are pleased to have reached agreement to deliver this exciting scheme for JD Sports.”

“Not only is this a great step forward in the development of this scheme in a difficult market, but it is also provides evidence of confidence returning to the high street, which is important to our town centre regeneration programme.”

Mark Clare, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments PLC, said: “This is a major step forward for our experienced team at Wilson Bowden Developments which has shown its expertise at delivering significant projects over a number of years and in all markets.”

Roger Ellis, Chief Executive of Rochdale Council, said: “This deal is good news for Kingsway Business Park and for the whole of Rochdale borough. Kingsway has enabled the borough to retain an important company and offer them an attractive location to grow their business”.

John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency said: “This represents one of the largest property deals in the North West this year and underlines the attractions of Kingsway Business Park as a destination of choice for quality businesses. JD Sports examined a whole range of sites and concluded that Kingsway offers them tremendous business advantages and efficiencies over the long term. We look forward to working with the company to maximize the local benefits of this major investment.”

The deal represents another strong vote of confidence in Kingsway from another major investor, following on from the deal to develop the 71,000 sq ft European headquarters of US based company CR Laurence which was secured late last year. That building is scheduled for completion in June this year.

The Kingsway Partnership involves developer Wilson Bowden Developments and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), supported by Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough Council. The joint agents are p3 Property Consultants and Jones Lang LaSalle.