Cash and Carry Giant Relocates in Lincoln
Booker Plc, the UK’s largest cash and carry operator have relocated to new purpose built premises in Lincoln, safeguarding the jobs of its staff and allowing new investment to be breathed into the former Booker site on Valentine Road.
Banks Long & Co dealt with both the Valentine Road and new site on Sadler Road and Partner, Tim Bradford, is delighted that these two transactions have been delivered.
“We have worked closely with Booker over a number of years as their lease on Valentine Road was due to expire in 2008. We have managed the redevelopment proposals on the Valentine Road site and the new cash and carry warehouse development on Sadler Road and both have been delivered on time.” Booker Plc, who trade from 172 branches in the UK, have relocated into a 47,500 sq ft purpose built warehouse with 76 car parking spaces on a site of 2.64 acres within the successful south west business quadrant on the outskirts of the city.
The site owners and developers, Lincolnshire Co-operative Limited, are pleased with the outcome. Liz Welbourn, Senior Estates Property Manager at the Coop explained: “We acquired this land when we helped to secure the jobs at Dynex a few years ago, by investing in the site. We understand Dynex is now thriving and its good to see the vacant land put to good use with further jobs and economic activity which the city really needs.”
The development was project managed by the Banks Long & Co building surveying department from inception to completion and the new Booker store opened on 27th April 2009.
The former “Booker” site on Valentine Road occupies one of the most prominent retail warehousing locations in Lincoln, sitting at the entrance into the thriving Valentine Retail Park.
The landowners, advised by Banks Long & Co have secured planning consent for a 43,000 sq ft new build retail warehouse unit with 160 on-site car parking spaces.
Tim Bradford confirmed “We have secured the letting of over 30,000 sq ft of the retail warehouse space to The Range whose nearest stores are in Nottingham and Scunthorpe. This retailer is trading well across the UK and has been looking to expand into the city for some time.
Work is due to start on the redevelopment of this site during the second half of this year and Tim Bradford concludes:
“These two transactions clearly demonstrate that even in these difficult times Lincoln continues to attract large scale investment from national companies.”
