Anixter, the American wiring systems supplier, has emerged as Healey & Baker’s mystery client with a requirement for up to 26,941 sq m (290,000 sq ft) of warehouse-manufacturing space on the M1 and M6 corridors.
The ITEL subsidiary already has two small depots in Warrington and Heston and a (10,219 sq m) 110,000 sq ft unit on Saltley Business Park. But, according to H&B’s European Industrial Partner John Greenwood, the supplier is looking to consolidate its operations into a central hub preferably near Saltley.
Anixter is ideally looking for around 22,296 sq m (240,000 sq ft) of largely warehouse space with 14 metres of head room clearance and 2 acres of external concrete yard. They also plan to include between 5% and 10% of ancillary offices within that.
Greenwood said: “If we go for lower head room the building has to grow sideways up to about 290,000 sq ft. There are not many 300,000 sq ft buildings in the M6 and M1 corridors with that kind of head-room. If we can’t find what we want near Birmingham we may have to widen the search as far as Manchester and Leeds.”
The company had shortlisted a site in the Black Country near the Black Country New Road – the advantages being the location and land prices in the region of £100,000 per acre – but they could not get a building of this size on it.
Cost restraints mean Anixter has ruled out Coleshill or Magna Park and is prepared to consider going to one of the new enterprise zones like Dearne Valley where they could get considerable capital allowances. According to Greenwood the other option is a five year lease on a 11,148 sq m (120,000 sq ft) building on Saltley Park adjacent to Anixter’s existing building. This would bring their total accommodation on A&J Mucklow’s scheme to 230,000 sq ft and serve as a stop-gap measure while they review their options.
EGi News 16/09/97
