Healthcare supplier moves to M57 warehouse site

Aug 20 2008 by Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Daily Post

HEALTHCARE group Movianto has moved to a new home in Knowsley, in a deal its agents say shows there is still strength in the big shed market, despite the gloom of the current economic climate.

Movianto has become the new tenant of The Rack, a 79,263 sq ft industrial warehouse at Deacon Park in Knowsley.

The pan-European healthcare logistics supplier has agreed a new 10-year lease from landlord Highcross, at £3.75 per sq ft on the fully racked facility, which is on a five-acre site around six miles from Liverpool city centre.

The joint letting agents were Jones Lang LaSalle, CB Richard Ellis and Edward Symmons.

Phil Morley of Jones Lang LaSalle, said: “Movianto’s relocation and expansion from its existing site in Haydock to Knowsley was helped by not only the excellent access to the M57 and M62, but also the semi-skilled labour force which is readily available in the area.

“Despite the current economic climate, a letting of this size illustrates that demand remains from industrial companies who are still actively looking to relocate, expand or consolidate their business.”

Deacon Park is sited on the junction of the M57/A580 East Lancs Road and is part of the 1,200-acre Knowsley Industrial Estate.

In recent years, substantial investment has changed the whole character of the park, with new industrial schemes, a hotel and Liverpool FC’s Academy. Current occupiers on the park include QVC, St Ivel, Vertex and DHL.

Jones Lang LaSalle, CB Richard Ellis and Edward Symmons are now marketing the remaining 457,000 sq ft industrial facility, known as The Big Rack, available either as whole or subdivided units.

German group Movianto, whose UK base is in Bedford, delivers 40% of all domestic pharmaceutical products in the UK and delivers some 50m items every year.

alistairhoughton