ABP buys 228-acre Lincolnshire plot in major land deal
Associated British Ports has bought the freehold of a 227.5-acre site near Immingham in Lincolnshire for commercial development as a major industrial hub.
The site, which is two miles from the Port of Immingham and six miles from the Port of Grimsby, is currently farmland but has outline planning consent for up to 1.3m sq ft of B1, B2 and B8 use types. ABP is understood to have invested tens of millions of pounds in the acquisition.
The port owner intends to submit an application next year allowing for 80 acres of automotive logistics, in anticipation of increased demand from electric vehicle manufacturers.
Associated British Ports has bought the freehold of a 227.5-acre site near Immingham in Lincolnshire for commercial development as a major industrial hub.
The site, which is two miles from the Port of Immingham and six miles from the Port of Grimsby, is currently farmland but has outline planning consent for up to 1.3m sq ft of B1, B2 and B8 use types. ABP is understood to have invested tens of millions of pounds in the acquisition.
The port owner intends to submit an application next year allowing for 80 acres of automotive logistics, in anticipation of increased demand from electric vehicle manufacturers.
The purchase includes 28 acres of allocated development land at Stallingborough Interchange, and two small areas of land owned by North East Lincolnshire Council.
Known as both Stallingborough Interchange and Pioneer Business Park, the site has been in NELC’s local plan for employment use since 2013. The aim is to provide additional space for logistics, manufacturing and green energy initiatives for current users of ABP’s nearby ports while also attracting new occupiers.
Greg Lacey, ABP’s head of property for the Humber, says: “This is a unique opportunity, assembled by ABP working collaboratively with NELC and three other landowners. The site is the largest development land parcel in such proximity to the ports, and of significant scale versus wider opportunities in the Yorkshire region.
“It is unlikely that any opportunity of the same size will be coming to the market for some time. The sizeable investment we have made in this shows ABP is a key player in supporting the growth of commercial activities within the region.”
Philip Jackson, leader of the council, said: “The sale has realised the opportunity to see development accelerated at Pioneer Business Park at a pace which is likely to bring with it a variety of benefits, including additional investment, facilities and jobs locally.
“I’d like to thank ABP for coming to the table with the proposals, and for creating what will be one of the biggest single developments in the area in recent times.”
Simon Bird, regional director of the Humber at ABP, said: “This is an important milestone in the future growth of the Humber ports. It demonstrates the need for strategic investment in land to facilitate the continued growth of ABP and to maintain the Humber ports’ leading position in the UK, as well as significant investment in the region for jobs.
“As demand is expected to increase for energy generation, automotive storage, bulk warehousing, and storage and distribution uses, the space constraints within our ports will increase. This additional land will ensure the delivery of state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities and technological innovation for new and existing customers.”
Earlier this year, ABP unveiled a new property strategy in which it intends to move beyond estate management into asset and development management. It owns 10,000 acres and land, with a further 2,500 acres earmarked for commercial development.
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Image from Associated British Ports
