Huge new warehouse okayed for Swindon, despite not having a tenant

The borough council has given planning permission for the unit to be built on an industrial area in Shaw in West Swindon.

And it’s possible that Brexit and uncertainty over imports is leading companies in Honda’s supply chain to investigate warehousing options.

Joint developers Hillwood and Trebor Developments have been given the go-ahead to build two units for light industrial warehousing or distribution purposes.

They are on a pyramid-shaped patch of unused land off Hillmead Drive, surrounded by other industrial buildings and offices.

The units are two-storey sheds, with office spaces in a corner of each building, with loading doors giving on to bays and an extensive area for vehicles.

The 7,595sq m total floor space is a few hundred metres bigger than the area of a football pitch.

Partner at London-based Trebor Developments Mark Wright said: “Our research shows that there is an unmet demand in Swindon for this sort of development, for medium size companies and logistics businesses.

“We don’t have a tenant signed up, but we have the funding to pursue a speculative development, and we’re going to go ahead with it.

“We have had very positive discussion with a number of companies, some of which are involved in the supply of Honda.”

Mr Wright added: “The good transport links to the M4 and the A419 to the M5 make Swindon a favourable location for this sort of development.”

Work is expected to start soon on the buildings and should be completed by the autumn.

Agent WBM Property, a Swindon company, and CBRE with offices in Bristol and are jointly marketing the units.

The Honda plant in South Marston is famous for its “just in time” delivery and supply system, with parts for cars arriving on the very day they will be used, with the company storing just one hour’s worth of components.

The company says it wants the UK to remain in the EU customs union to preserve ease of supply.

It declined to comment on suppliers’ arrangements.