European independent real estate investment firm Blackbrook Capital has acquired a strategic logistics facility at East Midlands Gateway in the UK from Trenport.
Financial details were not disclosed.
The 550,000 ft2 (51,000 m2) high-spec logistics facility was built under a tripartite building contract by Trenport and Segro.
The cross-docked logistics asset, which came online in 2020 and is known as Skygate, was completed specifically for The Very Group (TVG), the UK’s second largest pure-play online retailer, and is subject to a long-term triple-net lease.
Arvi Luoma, co-founder & CEO of Blackbrook, said: 'Skygate fits perfectly within our investment strategy of acquiring quality, mission-critical assets with good ESG credentials.
'The facility not only benefits from the highest specifications required by logistics occupiers, but also TVG has made its ESG commitments clear, investing in sustainable infrastructure and the wellbeing of its employees.
'Our aim is to invest in commercial real estate assets where we see fundamental long-term value in the property and in developing a partnership with occupiers who show strong growth potential, making this asset future-proofed.'
Located next to East Midlands Airport, the UK’s largest cargo airport after Heathrow, and within one of the UK’s designated freeports, the facility is inside the UK’s logistics Golden Triangle, considered capable of reaching 90% of the UK population in under four hours.
It has been built to high specifications with 7T floor load capacity, substantial parking provisions, ample manoeuvring area and 18m clear heights.
The facility boasts ESG credentials with a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating, rainwater harvesting, and preparation for solar panels on the roof. In addition, TVG specified numerous employee wellbeing amenities, including a gym, an all-weather multi sports pitch, break-out spaces and a multi-faith room.
Trenport chief executive Richard Hall said: 'Blackbrook performed as they promised and like many others, see the growing importance of specially engineered, environmentally-friendly automated fulfilment centres.
'We are grateful to Segro for their expertise and to our customer tenant, The Very Group who we have worked hard with to develop an advanced automated logistics centre that has the potential to scale and has also been designed with employees’ wellbeing, productivity and retention in mind.'
Blackbrook was advised by CBRE and Allen & Overy, and Trenport was advised by JLL, Cushman & Wakefield and Maples Teesdale.
