Multi-billion dollar US-based Ingram Micro is targeting sites in the UK for a new 78,965 sq m (850,000 sq ft) European headquarters.
The requirement – one of the largest in Europe – includes 23,225 sq m (250,000 sq ft) of high quality offices with the remainder distribution.
Ingram Micro is believed to be looking to fulfill its accommodation needs in the UK in four separate units on one major site. It is also thought to want to lease the space so that it has maximum flexibility if its business needs change.
Magna Park is tipped as the favourite to land the requirement. But the computer hardware company – which had sales of $16.5bn worldwide in 1997 – is also thought to have shortlisted Severn Trent’s DIRFT, near Daventry, and Grainge Park in Northampton, which Kings Park is developing jointly with a local landowner.
Gazeley Properties’ Don Morgan, which together with the Church Commissioners, owns Magna Park denied that the developer is currently talking to the hardware company. But the Park it is one of the few strategic distribution sites in the Midlands which could handle such a large requirement.
The company, which has a British base in Milton Keynes, has been considering a move to new accommodation for over a year. But IM has now brought forward plans for a high-profile expansion across Europe and the requirement has become active. The computer company intends to open five ‘integration’ centres in key locations around the Globe following its decision to form an alliance with manufacturing services provider Solectron Corporation.
Ingram Micro announced last week plans to build a 50,000 sq m (538,000 sq ft) manufacturing and distribution complex at Heerlen in the Netherlands and recently it bought the 18,000 sq m (193,000 sq ft) Tulip computer plant in Den Bosch.
EGi News 02/07/98
