CBRE Investment Management has completed a deal to lease its Solar120 warehouse in Warrington to a transport company.
John K Philips, which is based in St Helens, has taken a 15-year lease at the 120,511 sq ft warehouse.
Solar120 is a former call centre located on Europa Boulevard, with 9,000 sq ft of office space. CBRE IM refurbished the site earlier this year.
The refurbishment incorporated several ESG initiatives. Carbon emissions were reduced by retrofitting the building with heat pumps and LED lighting, removing gas supplies, and introducing a large amount of on-site, sustainable energy generation.
CBRE IM also installed photovoltaic panels across 85% of the building’s roof, generating up to 670,000kWh of renewable energy.
The warehouse has subsequently achieved carbon net zero in operation and BREEAM Excellent status.
John Philips, chief executive at John K Philips, said: “In an ever-demanding world of sustainability we are excited to be relocating to Solar 120 as this exceeds the expectations of our clients and will prove a major asset in attracting new business.”
Ian Fairweather, director at CBRE IM, said: “As one of the first refurbished industrial buildings to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, Solar120 has set new standards for the sector.
“The successful refurbishment and strategic repositioning of the property as a sustainable, high-quality asset exemplifies our commitment to innovation and sustainability, with the intention throughout being to retain and reuse as much of the existing property as possible, to minimise embodied carbon.
“We have successfully positioned the asset as a vibrant and eco-friendly space that resonates with forward-thinking occupiers and their customers. Signing this deal with John K Philips so soon after completion is a testament to the scheme’s appeal and the ongoing demand that exists for well-located industrial properties of this quality.”
Gerald Eve, B8RE and Moriarty & Co acted as letting agents for CBRE IM. Avison Young’s North-West industrial team represented John K Philips.
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