IM Properties completes acquisition of Fore Business Park, Solihull

Located on junction 4 of the M42, Fore Business Park features 66,000 sq ft of existing office accommodation in two buildings – Fore 1 and Fore 2 – which were speculatively developed in 2009 and are currently at 85 per cent occupancy. 

The site includes six acres of development land, with planning secured for two further office buildings totalling an additional 90,000 sq ft.

John Hammond, Investment Director at IM Properties, said: ‘Fore Business Park offered us two high quality buildings with existing income streams from four very good tenants, with the majority of leases extending over 10 years. The M42 market has witnessed a dramatic turnaround in recent months, exhibiting a strong demand that has left little stock for tenants to consider, particularly in good quality buildings that are landlord controlled. The market is currently starved of buildings along the M42 corridor that offer larger floorplates, so we will be looking to remodel the existing planning consent in order to ensure that we are delivering a desirable, cost-effective solution for commercial occupiers. Whether we develop speculatively or wait for a pre-let will be dictated by the market.’

The acquisition of Fore Business Park aligns with IM Properties’ strategy to acquire good quality, income producing investment stock whilst increasing its exposure to development. 

Martin Hill, development director for BAM Properties, said: ‘It speaks volumes about the strength of the M42 market that IM Properties has chosen to take the whole of the FORE business park development. They inherit some remaining letting potential in phase 1 and a superb consented site. It’s both an excellent investment for them and it’s proven to bear out the speculative development approach BAM adopts.’

IM Properties already has a presence in Solihull, having completed the acquisition of the Mell Square shopping centre last year and its ownership of Solihull Business Park, which will soon be home to the first John Lewis Customer Fulfilment Centre.

Existing occupiers at Fore Business Park include Goodrich, Arcellor Mittal, E-tech and BAM.

Savills acted on behalf of IM Properties in the completion of the acquisition, with BAM represented by CBRE.

For more information on IM Properties, visit: www.improperties.co.uk.

About IM Properties:

Established in 1987, IM Properties Plc is one of the UK’s largest privately owned property companies, with close to £1 billion of property owned and under management within the UK, France, Germany and USA, the company’s land bank is in excess of 300 acres.

Having already developed over 2 million sq ft of distribution and industrial space, IM Properties is well known for its consistent deliverability and quality of its developments. This deliverability is reinforced by the fact that all developments are financed from existing cash resources. For more info: www.improperties.co.uk