WINTER 2018 • SPOTLIGHT • 9
The Cathedral City of Exeter has been long established as a Regional Hub for dealership operators from which they represent car manufacturers seeking to sell, service and repair their range of vehicles.
Unlike many cities, where showrooms are spread throughout or along ‘motor alleys/ main arterial routes’, motor trade in Exeter has been directed via the planning system to a particular area of the city, Marsh Barton, and its more recent extension, Matford Green. The clustering or agglomeration for showrooms has worked well, with virtually every manufacturer represented. Marsh Barton is now becoming a destination for comparison car shopping, representing the largest concentration of car dealerships anywhere in Europe.
The needs of the dealers and manufacturers have, however, evolved over recent years with increased range of vehicles and derivatives within each sector. This leads to requirements for larger showrooms from which to display the full range and increased vehicle volumes putting sites under pressure for space. Additionally, a number of the dealerships were originally constructed as industrial units in the 60’s and 70’s and were now struggling to meet the property standards required by the various brands.
The Colliers’ Automotive and Roadside Team first became involved via their connections with Volkswagen Group and Inchcape, who represent the VW brand in Exeter. We were asked to undertake a site search to either extend the existing VW facility or find a relocation site within the Marsh Barton/Matford Green area. The geographic focus was confined by the need to stay within the cluster and this is an area where multiple industrial and trade counter operators are also vying for space – it was not the easiest
of briefs! Cutting a long story short, our team agreed a build to let arrangement with Eagle Land to develop a three acre site in a very prominent position on Matford Green Business Park.
Once that deal was done, the owners of the 27 acre development area known as Matford Green Business Park, appointed Colliers to help them identify other motor dealers who needed bigger sites and to test the market to effectively create a Motor Park. The location was perfect because existing high-end dealers such as BMW, Mercedes- Benz, Porsche, Land Rover, Jaguar and Volvo were already established along Bad Homburg Way and there had been no supply of development land for some years.
We identified a strong level of latent demand and found that a number of operators were in facilities that were too small and elderly. In quick succession, we agreed a land sale to Toyota/Lexus, Audi, Land Rover/Jaguar and most recently a nine acre site for Ford/ Mazda/Fiat/Jeep/Alfa.
This has established the location sufficiently to give the owners confidence to spec build the remaining six acres for industrial/trade uses.
This influx of new facilities has really turned motor retailing in Exeter on its head. Not only has it brought it bang up to date, but it has also shifted the focus of the dealerships within Marsh Barton/Matford Green to occupying newer, bespoke buildings on suitably sized pots in a business park environment.
Colliers Automotive and Roadside Team have been active in marketing the dealerships’ properties, which have become surplus in many instances to other dealer operators and used car operators, as well as alternative uses.
Colliers International
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
