Tritax Big Box Developments (TBBD) has signed a 20-year lease on a 138,250 sq. ft. facility with supply chain leader Martin Brower at Symmetry Park Darlington.
The letting allows Martin Brower UK & Ireland, headquartered in Hemel Hempstead, to establish its presence in the North East.
The bespoke facility has been built to BREEAM Excellent, net-zero carbon in construction standards, providing a high-specification yard and office spaces for Martin Brower. The firm will employ 220 team members at Symmetry Park Darlington, most of whom are from the local area.
Symmetry Park Darlington is being marketed jointly by GV&Co, Colliers International and Carter Jonas. Martin Brower was advised by JLL.
This announcement coincides with TBBD securing planning consent for the second phase of development at Symmetry Park Darlington.
Reserved matters planning consent has been achieved for an additional 490,000 sq. ft. of high-quality logistics accommodation across three new facilities comprising 165,000 sq. ft., 269,500 sq. ft. and 55,000 sq. ft. These will be developed on a design and build basis, also to BREEAM Excellent and net-zero carbon in construction standards.
Extending to 90 acres in total, Symmetry Park Darlington is already home to Amazon, which occupies 1.5m sq. ft. facility on a 20-year lease.
Simon Dixon, development director at TBBD, commented: “Martin Brower UK & Ireland is an excellent addition to our customer portfolio at Symmetry Park Darlington, joining another international heavyweight on this highly strategic site. This exceptional development is ideally situated for the North East and Scotland, providing state-of-the-art logistics space for businesses looking to expand their capabilities and reach across a broad area.”
Andrew Gent, director at GV&Co, said: “Martin Brower expanding into Symmetry Park Darlington is a major coup for the whole area and reinforces everything the business park offers. As well as being close to an available labour pool and offering direct connections to Darlington town centre and the A1(M), A19 and A66, the site offers a range of exceptional and highly sustainable buildings that are available on a design and build basis.
“There’s currently a limited supply of brand new logistics space in the North East and certainly nothing else in the local area that meets the high specification of Symmetry Park Darlington. We therefore expect the site’s three new units to continue attracting interest from well-known and market leading companies looking to expand their footprint in the North East and Scotland.”
Parv Sangera, Martin Brower UK & Ireland Managing Director, said: “This new distribution centre marks a major milestone in our journey to strengthen resiliency and expand capacity across the UK. Establishing our first footprint in the northeast not only enhances our network but also creates over 200 new local jobs – reinforcing our commitment to the communities we serve.
Designed with sustainability at its core, the site reflects our strategy to architect smart, sustainable supply chains that deliver long-term value for our customers, while ensuring we continue to provide the best possible service.”
Symmetry Park Darlington is strategically positioned adjacent to the A66, to the east of Darlington Town Centre, accessed from the new Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor. The A66 provides direct links to the A19 and A1(M) and to Teesport, 15 miles to the east.
