South Central scheme on track for May completion

The first phase of development has completed at South Central, a £30 million industrial and warehouse scheme set to bring hundreds of jobs to Southampton.

The highway widening works and other road improvements were the crucial first stage of development at the 11-acre development at Test Lane, Nursling. Developers are now set to start work on building the three new high-specification industrial units which form the heart of the scheme. The completion date has been announced as May 2018.

Commercial property specialists Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), joint letting agents for the site with JLL, report high levels of interest in the new units.

It is anticipated that South Central will bring around 750 jobs to the region once the units are occupied.

Adrian Whitfield, industrial & logistics director based in the Southampton office of LSH, said: “We are very excited to see this major development taking shape. South Central is an entirely speculative scheme, the first of its size adjacent to the Docks for around a decade, and its development demonstrates a huge amount of confidence in the south’s economy.

“That confidence was justified – we have already seen encouraging levels of interest from potential occupiers due to the quality of the units and their prime location, and we expect this to increase as the completion date draws near.”

South Central is being developed by UK logistics and industrial property specialist PLP, whose funding partner for the project is Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP.

The project offers three units measuring 39,075 sq ft, 49,965 sq ft and 116,895 sq ft, each with a Grade A specification including dock & level access loading doors, full access raised floor offices and large secure self-contained yard.

The site’s strategic location, within two miles of Dock Gate 20 of the Port of Southampton, its 24/7 hours of operation and close transport links to the M27 and M271, make it ideally suited to occupiers in the parcel distribution, storage and manufacturing sectors.

Neil Dickinson, Chief Investment Officer at PLP, said: “The road improvements at Test Lane were an important first stage in the development of South Central. We are now looking forward to work getting under way on the site itself and to welcoming the first occupiers when it opens early next year.”

Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that PLP has the confidence in Southampton to speculatively build much needed industrial and warehouse accommodation. I am not surprised at the high level of interest in this very well located site and the city looks forward to welcoming new occupiers and the employment they will bring.”