Britain’s largest bakery brand, Warburtons, is expanding its national operations with the pre-letting of a new, bespoke 65,847 sq. ft. distribution centre at Symmetry Park Biggleswade.

Symmetry Park Biggleswade spans c.150 acres, and is strategically situated on the established Stratton Business Park, in the east of Central Bedfordshire.

Warburtons has agreed a 25-year lease on 65,847 sq. ft. of cross-docked distribution and office space, with on-site EV charging solar PV arrays. Tritax Symmetry will submit a Section 73 amendment to the original planning permission to deliver five buildings in total, with the remaining units ranging from 139,500 sq ft – 287,200 sq ft.

The developer is bringing forward Phase 3 of Symmetry Park Biggleswade on the back of considerable demand for the net zero carbon in construction second phase of development, which comprised four buildings all fully let prior to completion. Phase 3 of the development benefits from detailed planning consent for 927,000 sq. ft. of highly sustainable logistics space.

Tom Leeming, Director at Tritax Symmetry, commented: “Following a previous pre-letting at Central M40 in Banbury we’re thrilled to be working with the Warburtons team again to deliver a bespoke, net zero carbon in construction distribution unit for them at Symmetry Park Biggleswade. We thank CBC for their ‘open for buisiness’ attitude and look forward to delivering another unit at the Park creating important jobs and economic development in a sustainable manner for the Borough.

“We aim to be on site for Phase 3 in Q4 2024 with the first units planned to complete in Q3 2025. Pre-lettings are now available on the four remaining plots, ranging from 139,500 – 287,200 sq. ft.”

Jim Norton, Head of Distribution Network Transformation for Warburtons, said: “As the largest bakery brand in the UK, we have a responsibility to lead and constantly innovate. That’s not only true with our products but also with the facilities in which we bake and distribute. Our new depot at Symmetry Park Biggleswade will be a highly sustainable building which very much aligns with our own core values, whilst the location will enable us to serve more stores, more efficiently.”

Warburtons currently produces over two million products every day at its 11 bakeries which it delivers fresh to 18,500 stores every morning from the company’s 18 depots.

Other businesses located at Symmetry Park Biggleswade include Co-operative Group Limited, which occupies a 661,000 sq. ft. regional distribution centre (RDC), Noatum Logistics (owned by AD Ports Group), Bidfood, Bowman Ingredients (owned by Solina) and Bond International.

Cllr Steven Watkins, Executive Member for Business, Housing and Public Assets at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “Symmetry Park Biggleswade and neighbouring Stratton Business Park are already home to established names in food industry, including the Co-op, Bidfood, and Noatum Logistics. The proven location is more than ripe for further investment, and will attract more high-profile businesses to the area, creating job opportunities for local people in the process.”

Symmetry Park Biggleswade benefits from Tritax Symmetry’s first on-site Energy Centre, which supplies occupiers with continual and resilient energy services.

The site is accessed via the A1, which provides links to the North/South via the M25 and A14, with Junction 23 of the M25 only half an hour to the south.

The project team includes: Savills Project Management, AJA Architects, Woods Hardwick Planning, Feasibility QS, Dunwoody M&E, Hydrock C&S.

Colliers and Bidwells are joint letting agents for the scheme. Hope Ayers of JLL, Will Marsh of Marsh & Baxter & Sarah Ratcliffe of Gordons LLP advised Warburtons.