At the start of the year, industrial and logistics specialist SEGRO completed its most sustainable development in the UK to date, achieving a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating at SEGRO Park Tottenham, north London.

Unit 8 exterior2

The site provides 190,000 sq ft of industrial space across eight units, ranging from 6,993 sq ft to 52,070 sq ft in size.

Sustainable features include green walls to help purify air, as well as air-source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points and photovoltaic panels.

Other environmentally friendly features include 127 new semi-mature trees and 880m of new hedges to help increase biodiversity on the site. Smart sensors have also been installed to help occupiers manage their energy and water usage and monitor indoor air quality.

We decided to design a scheme that was sympathetic to the neighbours and market-leading

Bonnie Minshull, SEGRO

Speaking to Property Week ahead of the site’s completion, Bonnie Minshull, director for Greater London at SEGRO, says the site was acquired in 2019 following a fire that razed the previous development on the site to the ground. “The owners agreed to sell to us off-market, which was great because you don’t get many opportunities to buy off-market in London,” she explains. “Straight away we decided to design a scheme that was going to be sympathetic to the neighbours and market-leading.”

A major part of the attraction of the site is its location, says Minshull, as it is in Zone 3 and within walking distance of several underground stations. “You have really good connections into central London and around London because you’re near the North Circular. It’s also great in terms of the number of people on your doorstep: whether they are customers you are delivering to or the potential target workforce.”

Minshull says the units have been designed to be as adaptable as possible, rather than designed for specific types of businesses such as urban logistics operators. To date, she says, it has received enquiries from a range of potential occupiers, including smaller, quirkier local businesses.

Premium product

Rents on the site will be priced at around £27.50/sq ft to £30/sq ft, which is a similar rate to other prime London locations. SEGRO anticipates that around 250 people will work on the site once it is fully occupied.

Minshull says SEGRO has deliberately tried to make the site look less industrial than many traditional warehouses by adding light and airy workspaces, breakout areas such as terraces and amenities such as the outdoor gym. “Increasingly, employees are demanding more from their employers,” she adds. “If they’re going to attract the best talent in the area, then a building like this is potentially going to help.”

Overall, Minshull says the development fits with SEGRO’s strategy of having the best spaces in the best locations.

“This is a really desirable location and we’ll be able to command premium rents because it’s a premium product,” she says.