Longstanding Leeds based warehouse fit-out specialist WSL, is expanding and relocating its headquarters, after acquiring a new site just outside the city centre that was on the market for less than two weeks with leading property consultancy Gent Visick.
Warehouse Systems Limited has acquired the two-acre site on Brancepeth Place, fronting onto Armley Road, and close to its existing premises on Albion Business Park. Gent Visick was appointed to sell the site by previous owner occupier, industrial packaging company Tradpak, which has relocated to Hull.
The secure site, which is just half a mile from Leeds city centre, benefits from large power and gas supplies, and currently offers more than 27,000 sq ft of industrial space across five buildings.
WSL is planning to complement this by building a new office building on the site when it relocates there later this year. The company employs a 40 strong team and is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary year. It’s also enjoyed a number of notable contract wins recently including a £16 million order from Marks & Spencer to install more than 1 million sq ft of mezzanine flooring, 90kms of hanging rails and a 250,000 box capacity shelving system at the retailer’s Hatfield distribution centre.
Sophie Langdale, managing director at WSL, said: “We’ve been renting our current premises for the last 12 years but have outgrown it and have been actively looking for a site to buy for the last 18 months, but there were very few suitable options available. When Brancepeth Place was brought to our attention, we immediately knew it was ideal for our requirements because it’s just half a mile from Leeds City Centre and very close to our existing site, which is ideal for our team. Plus, it offers double the amount of industrial space that we have now and we’re looking forward to starting work on a new, modern, purpose built office building.
“Crucially, it also offers plenty of future growth potential at an exciting time for our business. We expect to benefit from Brexit, which potentially could reduce competition from companies in the EU, and this has given us the confidence to expand. As a result, we’re winning lots of new work including the M&S order, which is one of the biggest contracts awarded to our industry in the last 12 months.”
Paul Mack, Director at Gent Visick, said: “This site provided a rare opportunity to acquire the freehold of a high-quality industrial offering on the fringe of Leeds City Centre. As a result, we generated a significant amount of interest in the site. It was therefore no surprise to agree a deal in under a fortnight and we were delighted to conclude this transaction in such a short timescale.”
Lindsay Texel of Clarion Solicitors represented Tradpak, whilst Chris Waterhouse of Andrew Jackson Solicitors in Hull represented WSL.
Gent Visick is a leading niche property consultancy providing support during acquisitions, sales, lettings and investment transactions. Its services include industrial agency, building consultancy, investment and strategic consultancy.
