Today is the 10th anniversary of ESH opening their Cobham office which has gone from strength to strength

10 years ago today ESH opened a new office in Cobham to specialise in property managment, headed by Simon Marshall, along with a team of three. Nowadays the team is thirteen strong and they manage an ever increasing portfolio of retail warehouses, industrial estates, distribution sheds, offices and health clubs. Simon says ‘We started off the busienss to manage retail parks but have expanded year on year and one of our biggest challenges is getting people to understand that we do not just specialise in one sector.’ Appropriately enough for the offices 10th birthday everyone will celebrating this afternoon, but probably not in the office!!

Standard Life Investments, advised by ESH, have exchanged contracts to sell Bromley Road Retail Park

Standard Life Investments, advised by Edgerley Simpson Howe, have exchanged contracts to sell Bromley Road Retail Park to Royal London. The purchase price of £26.1 million represents a net initial yield of 6.5%. The 72,500 sq ft retail park is let to Currys, PC World, Comet, Carpetright and Harveys at rents ranging from £24.40 – £25 per sq ft. Jo Duffield of ESH said “The asset was held by the long lease fund at SL and its disposal is in line with the fund’s strategy of maintaining a high average long income and we were delighted to have struck a deal with a fund at a level that reflects the remaining quality of income.” (Feb 2011)

AXA, advised by Edgerley Simpson Howe LLP, have sold the Mecca Bingo and Home Bargains on Queens Road, Beeston, Nottingham

AXA, advised by Edgerley Simpson Howe LLP, have sold the Mecca Bingo and Home Bargains on Queens Road, Beeston, Nottingham to First Property for £4,695,000. The price reflects a net initial yield of 7.25%. The scheme comprises approximately 40,000 sq ft let at rents of £8.43 and £9.14 per sq ft with lease expiries in 2023 and 2025. Mecca Bingo has a fixed uplift in 2013. Home Bargains has a tenant break option in 2020. Jamie Naughton comments “This was a non core asset for the fund and made sense to sell at a competitive price. This sale demonstrates the continuing demand for retail warehousing from a diverse range of buyers”.

LV=Asset Management has sold the freehold interest in Keighley Retail Park, Keighley in West Yorkshire for £14.2 million

LV=Asset Management has sold the freehold interest in Keighley Retail Park, Keighley in West Yorkshire for £14.2 million reflecting a net initial yield of 6.25%. THe scheme, which comprises 65,000 sq ft, is occupied by Currys, JJB, COmet, Halfords, Dreams, Brantano, Sleepmasters, Jollyes and KFC and benefits from an open A1 non food planning consent. After a competitvie bidding process Henderson Globel Investorst secured the property for their UK Property Unit Trust. (Feb 2011)

The former Borders unit at the interchange of Portway / Grafton Street, Milton Keynes has been let to Cotswold Outdoor on a 10 year lease.

The former Border unit at the interchange of Portway / Grafton Street, Milton Keynes has been let to Cotswold Outdoor on a 10 year lease at an inital rent of £280,000 pa. The 15,684 sq ft unit, with a further 4,960 sq ft mezzanine has been vacant since Borders entered administration in 2009. This is to become a flagship store for Cotswold Outdoor, with concessions granted to Costa Coffee, Up and Running and Trek Cycles.

Tim Hornor of Edgerley Simpson Howe advised Associated British Foods Pension Fund.

CB Richard Ellis Investors, advised by Edgerley Simpson Howe, has purchased the freehold interest in the Staples unit in Epsom

CB Richard Ellis Investors, advised by Edgerley Simpson Howe, has purchased the freehold interest in the Staples unit, East Street, Epsom for the Pfizer Pension Fund. The purchase price of £4,700,000 represents a net initial yield of 5.92%. The property comprises a stand alone retail warehouse of 13,762 sq ft situated close to the town centre and fronting the A24 East Street. The lease has a further 10 years unexpired and the passing rent equates to £21.40 per sq ft with the 2010 rent review outstanding. Fund Manager Richard Dean of CBREI comments ‘Epsom is a strong town with a very limited supply of retail warehousing and we believe this is a good opportunity off a sensible base rent and with a favourable planning consent.’ The vendor was a private client represented by Miles Commercial. (Feb 2011)