Foodstuffs’ former South Island distribution hub in Christchurch is set to become a warehouse and distribution complex.
Structural upgrades and architectural offices will be added by the new owners.
The former dry goods distribution hub includes a 17,200 square metre warehouse with a 2300 square metre canopy located on 31,000 square metres of land in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui.
The property was sold by Foodstuffs earlier this year and purchased by a privately-owned Christchurch property investment group. Foodstuffs has outgrown the current site and is moving to a considerably larger facility in Christchurch.
The Papanui warehouse complex has excellent connections to the main arterial routes across Christchurch says Bayleys. The building has large span portal frames of 21 metres and a stud height of eight metres.
Since selling the property, structural strengthening plans have been completed to bring the warehouse up to 100% of the latest building codes. Architectural plans have also been prepared to subdivide the existing single warehouse into five separate smaller warehouses – ranging in size from 1,640 square metres to 7,560 square metres.
Each of the resulting new warehouses will have its own secure access, yard area, loadings bays, and the option of ground and first floor offices of flexible size and configuration.
Construction of the structural works is planned to begin in October 2014 with the warehouses being ready for occupation from early 2015. These five warehouse units are now being marketed for lease through Bayleys Canterbury.
Bayleys Canterbury salesperson Stewart White says that as a rebuild and refurbishment location, floor space at the Papanui warehousing complex would be cheaper per square metre than most new-build destinations where land prices and construction rates are pushing rents to record levels.
The building has a floor loading capacity of up to 4.5 tonnes per/square metre, precast concrete walls to 4 metres with braced steel girts and metal cladding above, and long run metal roofing. The land currently has a Business 4 zoning suitable for warehousing, distribution, freight, storage or other industrial activities.
“We envisage likely tenants will be small to medium size freight or logistics-orientated businesses, or light manufacturing or industrial companies. Alternatively, the entire property could be leased on favourable terms to a single tenant and would make an excellent base for a larger operator, or a company wanting staged take up or future expansion space.” says White.
“All five units will have access to a substantial sealed yard immediately in front of the roller doors, with an adjoining grassed area that can be converted into additional vehicle parking if required.
“New tenants have the option of retaining and utilising Foodstuffs’ existing pallet and box racking infrastructure (including five-pallet-high racking and in-rack sprinklers) within their refurbished premises – offering a considerable saving on set-up costs.”
