Gazeley - Industrial Development - Felixstowe, New Logistics Hub at Port of Felixstowe
Date: 25 Jul 2006
Gazeley Limited is to launch Felixstowe Portside - a new 'port centric' logistics park development, enhanced and supported by the Port of Felixstowe - the UK's largest container port.
Felixstowe Portside will offer up to 530,000 sq ft (49,237 sq m) of design and build warehouse and storage development opportunities with direct access to the Port of Felixstowe. Felixstowe handles significantly more container traffic than any other UK port with plans to increase its capacity by almost 50 per cent (from 3 million twenty-foot equivalent units to 5.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units).
The 27-acre (11 hectares) intermodal site is located within the Trinity Estate, which has a private road network adjacent to the port's boundary thereby enabling the site to be classified as 'Portside'. As such, the site offers potential savings in import duties, other fiscal costs and the ability to utilise overweight containers giving up to 40% additional shipping capacity.
James Behrens, development director for Gazeley, comments:
"Felixstowe Portside offers retailers and logistics operators a first class opportunity to manage logistics operations right in the heart of the UK's busiest and largest port. Port centric logistics is challenging the traditional model by offering a supply chain solution for goods arriving at the port and enables whole sections of the supply chain to be removed resulting in faster distribution at lower operational cost. We are delighted to be championing Portside logistics for our customers in partnership with the Port of Felixstowe and the Trinity Estate."
Chris Lewis, CEO, Port of Felixstowe, adds:
"We view Felixstowe Portside as a natural progression in the changing shift of modern logistics facilities, designed to complement the already established range of port centric services on offer to both the shipper and cargo owner.
Located immediately adjacent to our container terminals, Felixstowe Portside can enjoy the benefits of an integrated service for the successive movement of its containers, effectively providing a 'green lane' for both inbound and outbound activity. Portside is of course considerably more than this, by choosing to position an import distribution centre at point of first landing, supply chains are already enjoying the benefits of reduced costs, early availability of stock and a wide range of flexible value added services."
Dr Jeremy Fairbrother, Senior Bursar of Trinity College Cambridge, owner of the Trinity Estate, added:
"Trinity College is pleased to support Felixstowe Portside. The development is in line with the regional plan and Haven Gateway Partnership aspirations for the regeneration and enhancement of the area. The development fits well with our vision of the wider strategy for the Felixstowe peninsular."
The site has outline planning consent and, depending on the occupier, is anticipated to create up to 500 new jobs. Felixstowe Portside will be developed in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner, constructed using Gazeley's pioneering EcoTemplate* development model.
Felixstowe Portside is located 2 miles east of Felixstowe town and benefits from access to the A14 with links to London and the M25 via the A12, and the Midlands via the A1M, M1 and M6 motorways.
As imports from overseas, in particular China, continue apace, deep-sea container traffic is expected to more than double in the next fifteen years. Gazeley is positioning itself to offer its customers operating European-wide and global distribution networks added value by promoting port centric warehouse solutions. As goods arrive through the port, merchandise can be unloaded, sorted, consolidated and redistributed from within the existing security of the complex. This enables whole sections of the supply chain to be removed, increasing efficiency and stock visibility while reducing unnecessary 'road miles' and ultimately driving down distribution costs and goods to shelves time scales.
Joint lettings agents Knight Frank and Bidwells are expecting a rent of under £5 per sq ft (£53.82 per sq m).
The Felixstowe Portside facility exterior
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