McKay Securities plc, the only UK REIT specialising entirely in the office, industrial and logistics markets of the South East and London, has let the whole of 135 Theale Logistics Park, its 134,430 sq ft speculative warehouse development at Junction 12 of the M4 near Reading, to a logistics operator.
The new tenant has agreed to a 10-year lease term. The letting will increase McKay’s contracted rental income by 5.3% to £29.8 million.
The development delivers a 39% increase in building area and a 100% increase in contracted rent compared with the original property on the site that was acquired by McKay in 2015. That asset provided an income yield of 6.6% up until the commencement of redevelopment works in 2018. The new scheme reached practical completion in April 2020 and, due to Covid-19 related movement restrictions, McKay engaged potential occupiers with virtual tours and other promotion materials which resulted in it securing this strong covenant for the entirety of the scheme.
Commenting on the letting, Simon Perkins, chief executive of Reading-based McKay, said: “Our ability to secure a high-quality tenant for this speculative development, particularly during a period when the UK property market was struggling with Covid-19, provides a strong endorsement of the scheme and our occupier-focused approach.
“Our decision to undertake this project was driven by the ongoing low levels of supply of quality mid-size distribution space in the Thames Valley coupled with the continued growth of e-commerce which has accelerated in recent months.
“This letting underpins McKay’s continued strategic focus on the office, industrial and logistics markets of the South East and London, and once again demonstrates our ability to add value from development projects. Securing an occupier for this top-quality scheme continues the conversion of our substantial portfolio reversion into income, with plenty more to capture for the benefit of shareholders.”
Savills and Haslams acted on behalf of McKay.
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