Abstract
This research addresses the deficit of empirical investigation of changes in industrial and warehouse property markets in the UK. It uses business rates (rating list) data for England and Wales to reveal changes in the quantum and distribution of premises over the last decade. Spatio-temporal analysis using geographical information systems identifies where new industrial and warehouse premises have been developed and examines spatial changes in the distribution of premises between the two sectors. The research focuses on the development of new large distribution warehouses (LDWs) to investigate whether there is a new pattern of warehouse premises located in close proximity to junctions on the national highway network. Findings confirm the emergence of a dynamic distribution warehouse property market where “super sheds” have been developed in areas with high levels of multi-modal connectivity. The comprehensive spatio-temporal analysis of all industrial and warehouse premises in England and Wales reconfigures the previously recognised Midlands “Golden Triangle” of distribution warehouses to a “Golden Pointer” and reveals the emergence of a rival “Northern Dumbbell” of distribution warehouse premises in the North of England. Further analysis using isochrones confirms that 85% of the population of Great Britain is situated within four hours average heavy goods vehicle drive time of these two concentrations of super sheds and over 60% of all LDWs floorspace is within 30 minutes’ drive of intermodal rail freight interchanges.
Highlights
Introduction and ContextIn recent decades there have been structural changes in the nature of commerce and work, relating to how society creates, buys, and consumes goods
Traditional bricks and mortar shops and large‐scale manufacturing build‐ ings face uncertain futures; on the other hand, new ways of working and consuming have fuelled demand for new types of buildings, for example large distribution warehouses (LDWs), located in close proximity to nodes of multi‐modal connectivity. These buildings have been constructed in response to the aforementioned demand from distribution and logistics firms, much of which has been built in close proximity to junctions on national highway networks
The changing nature of property markets requires recal‐ ibration of international planning and development per‐ spectives, that need to identify, safeguard, and release land for LDWs situated in locations that benefit from high inter‐modal connectivity
Summary
Introduction and ContextIn recent decades there have been structural changes in the nature of commerce and work, relating to how society creates, buys, and consumes goods. Traditional bricks and mortar shops and large‐scale manufacturing build‐ ings face uncertain futures; on the other hand, new ways of working and consuming have fuelled demand for new types of buildings, for example large distribution warehouses (LDWs), located in close proximity to nodes of multi‐modal connectivity. These buildings have been constructed in response to the aforementioned demand from distribution and logistics firms, much of which has been built in close proximity to junctions on national highway networks. The research will be of interest and relevance to a variety of market par‐ ticipants in manufacturing, distribution, and logistics sec‐ tors; industrial and warehouse tenants and owner occu‐ piers; commercial and industrial sector landlords and investors; industrial and warehousing real estate agents and developers; inter‐modal freight operators; and cen‐ tral and local government civil servants responsible for transport, spatial planning, and economic development
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