Boundary Real Estate (Boundary) has secured outline planning consent from Charnwood Borough Council for Phase 2 of Watermead Business Park. The development of up to 61,000 sq m (656,620 sq ft) of warehouse/industrial space to provide a gateway location into Leicester.
The new development will inject capital into the region, providing substantial employment and economic growth, along with protecting, enhancing, and extending the area’s networks of green spaces. It is anticipated that up to 918 permanent and 447 temporary jobs will be provided through the development of high-quality employment space, providing an attractive new environment for business innovation and employment.
The 31.06-hectare (76.77 acre) site, part of the Raynsway portfolio, acquired by Boundary in 2022, is located between the towns of Thurmaston, Wanlip, Birstall and Syston, approximately three miles north of Leicester City centre. Since acquiring the portfolio, Boundary has worked hard to continue the ethos of local company growth. Recent investment into the Thurmaston and Syston properties have yielded new lettings including British Red Cross, Eon Next, Soane Britain, and the combination of best-in-class office provision and urban logistics has allowed the Raynsway portfolio to continue to evolve.
Mike Morrison, Founding Partner of Boundary, says: “At Boundary we strive to regenerate and reposition our investments to create sustainable space/accommodation for our tenants to thrive within. We have been working extremely closely with Charnwood Borough Council, Leicester City Council, The Mayor and various regeneration groups, along with our design and planning team, to develop a regeneration that not only provides jobs and growth for the region, but is also is an exemplar in environmental terms.”
The new development will target a BREEAM Excellent rating. A full Life Cycle Assessment with be undertaken, ensuring that the design, construction and operation of the buildings meet the highest environmental standards. Importantly for best-in-class operators/tenants, the buildings will also target EPC A ratings.
Mike adds: “The new development will aim to set best-in-class embodied carbon targets for all the buildings being developed. By focussing on construction methods, we can target Watermead as a Net Zero Carbon development from a construction standpoint and ultimately in use too.”
EV Charging points will be installed, along with electric bikes. As part of the schemes’ Travel Plan, further measures and incentives will be put in place to encourage sustainable travel modes to the site.
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