One of the largest speculative warehouses to be built in Bristol is close to being finished, with its marketing agents expecting strong interest from firms operating in the so-called ‘last-mile’ of their supply chains.
Unit G2 at Horizon38, the £85m employment scheme being developed on former Rolls-Royce land at Filton, will be ideal for these businesses as they need large amounts of space close to their end customers. 
The 115,500 sq ft Grade A building, pictured, – the size of two football pitches – will become available for occupation within the coming weeks. One of the first, smaller speculative units at Horizon38 – a 31,800 sq ft building – has already been let to a global logistics company to serve its expanding aerospace clients locally.
It will act as a detached gateway building fronting Gypsy Patch Lane for Horizon38, which sits within the Filton Enterprise Area and is the largest and most significant regeneration project in the South West.
It is being marketed by joint letting agents GVA and JLL on behalf of developer MSF Filton, a joint venture between St Francis Group and iSec.
The agents described the unit as a positive reaction by the developer to a real lack of any quality big shed supply in the Bristol and regional property market.
The building is particularly targeted at ‘last mile’ supply chain companies such as Amazon who need to be very close to the customer – an expanding new market known as urban logistics.
Its location as well as its size and high-spec development also mean it could act as a major industrial HQ for a local company, a strategic logistics hub servicing the region or a facility to expand the neighbouring aerospace industries.
It will also benefit from a ready labour supply within walking distance, excellent local transport links and accessibility to the city as well as the motorway networks,
GVA Bristol director Paul Hobbs said: “A return to good levels of demand combined with a lack of building options outside Avonmouth has led to a serious lack of available floorspace in the region’s industrial stock, leaving occupiers with little or no choice when it comes to relocation or expansion in the traditional employment areas of the city.
“Filton has always been at the hub of Bristol’s economic growth, with its strong aerospace and engineering credentials, this is set to continue as Horizon38 takes shape.”
Unit G2 has a height of 12 m, 10 dock level doors and two level entry loading doors. It includes 5,490 sq ft of office space.
Horizon38 combines industrial and distribution buildings totalling 580,000 sq ft with a further 25 acres of mixed employment space including new offices, trade warehouses, motor trade outlets and a landmark hotel from Village Urban Resorts
Further phases of new units from 3,000 sq ft will come on stream early next year resulting in a total of 580,000 sq ft of logistics, industrial and trade counter space.
