Be First, the regeneration arm of London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, has completed Industria in Barking, claiming the development is the first in a new generation of multistorey ramped industrial schemes in the UK.
JLL and LSH have been appointed to market the 45-unit scheme.
The scheme comprises over 100,000 square feet of industrial floorspace in two connected buildings, one of three and one of four floors. The scheme was designed by London-based architect Haworth Tompkins in collaboration with industrial architect Ashton Smith.
There will be keen interest in how it performs as the development is one of a number coming forward that are turning to multistorey as the capital has seen industrial land swallowed up by other uses. Multistorey warehouse development has been rare to date in the UK although it is far more common in Asian markets.
The development uncertainty and perceived risk of multistorey industrial, as tenants do like to share buildings has previously turned away developers but they are increasingly being seen as offering improved capacity alongside increased developer returns.
For a review of why multistorey has struggled to get off the ground in the UK and Europe, and the developers trying to change this click here.
Multistorey can mean mezzanine levels which are accessed internally using goods lifts, but other developments will have vehicle access and dock doors on each floor.
The need to build upwards is becoming most obvious in the capital. In the past two decades Greater London has lost nearly 1,500 hectares of industrial land to other uses according to Greater London Authority figures which have prompted it to update the London Plan to encourage "industrial intensification" and make best use of existing industrial sites in London. Whilst the Industria schene is not targeted at any specific sectors, it is eyeing the growth of film and food-based businesses in the borough.
The parties say the completion of Industria by Be First is London’s first scheme to respond to the London Plan, by providing a new stacked industrial building in East London.
The scheme comprises two parallel rectangular wings containing a 45 units, arranged around three levels of loading bays and service yards. The workspaces inside range from 20 to 450 square metres providing a mixture of SME and Flatted Factory units and could provide employment for up to 300 people.
It was built to reach BREEAM Excellent standards, provide 2,000 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels and include green wall landscaping.
It includes a café, breakout spaces and cycle facilities
The scheme is located in the heart of the River Road Employment Area, a Strategic Industrial Location (within the London Plan. This area is adjacent to the A13 and close to new Barking .Riverside station and pier.
Be First has also appointed Bewonder, JLL’s marketing agency firm to market the scheme while it is being let and during occupation.
Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said in a statement: “I am so pleased to see Be First rise to the challenge of the London Plan and deliver such an innovative industrial scheme. Multi-storey industrial is a new concept for London but common in other global cities. Industria is a great example of making best use of existing land to create new space, new business investment and new jobs to support London’s economy.”
Jules Pipe, deputy mayor for planning, regeneration and skills, added: “I welcome Be First’s innovative Industria development which showcases the intensification and modernisation of industrial floorspace in line with the London Plan, as well as putting small and medium-sized businesses at the heart of the local economy.