West Midlands
Futureproofing the Hub Panattoni’s Gregg Titley on The Midlands’ Enduring Appeal for Occupiers and Investors
Gregg Titley
The Midlands continues to be one of the UK’s strongest indus- trial and logistics regions. What factors do you think highlights its enduring appeal?
The Midlands benefits from an enviable geographic position at the centre of the national motorway network, which allows occupiers to serve the bulk of the UK population within a single driver shift. That connectivity, combined with a skilled workforce and established manufacturing and distribution clusters, has cemented the region’s status as the UK’s logistics heartland. Investors and occupiers alike continue to view it as the most strategic location.
How is occupier demand evolving in the Midlands, and what are tenants looking for today compared to five years ago?
The key factors of location, led by customers and employees, and size, remain the cornerstone of consideration for occupiers. Additional influence is increasingly shaped by three factors: sustainability, power and labour. Occupiers are prioritising buildings that meet stringent ESG requirements, including net-zero carbon credentials, BREAAM and renewable energy provision. Electrification of fleets and provision for EV charging continues to drive a requirement for an increased power supply. Finally, accessibility to labour is another element that can also influence decisions. Skilled labour is imperative to ensure business resilience and cost competitiveness with ability to provide shift patterns at critical periods.
Coventry has seen significant development in recent years. How does it reflect broader trends in the Midlands logistics market?
Coventry illustrates both the opportunities and the pressures of the market. Its location within the ‘Golden Triangle’ makes it one
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MONTHLY 2025 57
of the UK’s most desirable logistics locations. At our Panattoni Park Coventry development, totalling 600,000 sq ft across three units, designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and net zero in construc- tion, we have addressed occupier priorities for strong transport links, good labour and power provision with future-proofed sustainabil- ity features and the measures to support large-scale operations. Uniquely, this scheme also benefits from WiredScore accreditation, reflecting Panattoni’s commitment to delivering best-in-class digital connectivity for occupiers.
Looking ahead, what do you see as the defining trends for the Midlands logistics sector over the next few years?
The Midlands will continue to be shaped by structural drivers such as e-commerce, supply chain resilience, and nearshoring, but I think the real shift will come from how the market responds to ESG. We are also seeing notable demand from Chinese e-commerce operators, who are relatively new entrants to the UK logistics market but are rapidly taking significant amounts of space as they establish and scale their fulfilment networks. Developers who can deliver genuinely sustainable buildings, with flexibility for future adaptation, will be the ones who succeed. For Panattoni, the priority is to stay ahead of these trends, ensuring we support occupiers with space that is both operationally effective and futureproofed.
For more information visit:
www.panattoni.co.uk
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 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
