The rapid growth of online retail across Yorkshire and the Humber fuelled a 51% increase in big box logistics take-up in 2018, according to our 2019 Industrial & Logistics Market Report.

Take-up across the region rebounded to 8.7m sq ft last year, 8% higher than 2017 and in line with the five-year average.

Big box logistics take-up increased to 3.4m sq ft. The largest deal across Yorkshire saw Clipper Logistics lease Sheffield 615, a refurbished 615,000 sq ft unit, on behalf of online retailer PrettyLittleThing.com.

Other standout deals included Jack Wills taking a 390,000 sq ft unit at Parkway Interchange, Sheffield, while ASOS took 190,000 sq ft at West Moor Park, Doncaster.

The report found that take-up was largely concentrated on second hand units, which accounted for 74% of the total space transacted.

There is a mixed picture when it comes to supply. Availability across the region was down by 5% to 15.6m sq ft at year-end. The issue is most critical at the small and medium end of the market with an abrupt 26% fall in unit availability.

However, the supply of mid box and big box space increased by 40% and 4% respectively as speculative development returned to the market.

Several large warehouses are scheduled for completion in 2019 including Barwood Capital’s 259,000 sq ft Super G in Glasshoughton, PLP’s development of Bessemer Park in Sheffield and multiple units at Nimbus Park, Gateway 4 and G-Park, all of which are in Doncaster.

The availability of grade A mid box space more than doubled across Yorkshire and the Humber, with new speculative units easing supply shortages.

Prime rents remained stable across the region’s key markets during 2018, staying within the £5.75 to £6.25 per sq ft range. Secondary rents increased in Doncaster, Hull, Sheffield and Wakefield.

Rob Haigh, Associate Director of Industrial & Logistics at our Sheffield office, said:

“Until recently, the Yorkshire and Humber market has seen less speculative development than neighbouring regions such as the East Midlands and North West.

“Following the success of the speculative development at Doncaster’s iPort scheme, other developers have followed suit meaning Yorkshire now has more mid box and big box options and can compete against its regional counterparts as a viable logistical location. The delivery of high quality, speculative units may provide opportunities for new prime rental benchmarks to be set in 2019.”

Click here to view the 2019 Industrial & Logistics Report.