IN Brief:
- Asda has sold its 322,198 sq ft Wigan regional distribution centre to Prime Box for £14.235 million.
- Prime Box and JD.com are planning a full refurbishment of the vacant warehouse.
- The deal keeps a large North West logistics asset in circulation through repositioning rather than demolition or long-term idling.
Asda has completed the sale of its former Wigan regional distribution centre to Prime Box for £14.235 million, bringing a long-vacant North West logistics asset back into play. The 322,198 sq ft warehouse at Wheatlea Industrial Estate has been sold with full vacant possession, and Prime Box will act as development manager as plans move forward for a full refurbishment alongside JD.com.
The transaction advances Prime Box’s strategy of acquiring older logistics stock and repositioning it for modern occupier requirements. Earlier deal details around the Wigan asset pointed to a refurbishment targeting EPC A and an upgraded 3MVA power supply, underlining the extent of the work likely to be needed to bring the building into line with current operational and sustainability expectations. The warehouse is well located for regional distribution, with direct access to the A49 and onward connectivity into the wider North West motorway network.
The building has not formed part of Asda’s supply chain for several years. Rob Butterworth, Head of Estates at Asda, said Wigan had not been part of the retailer’s network “for a number of years” and that, following the end of a tenancy last year, it made sense to return the property to the market. The site itself is a substantial former RDC, with a low-site-density layout, 28 dock doors, six level loading doors, and 12-metre eaves, giving the incoming owners a sizeable base for refurbishment rather than a speculative rebuild from scratch.
John Sullivan, Director in the Industrial & Logistics team at Colliers, said the disposal formed part of Asda’s rationalisation strategy and added that the North West continued to offer some of the best located warehouse assets for UK distribution, with strong demand for value-add opportunities. Rock Real Estate and ACRE Capital Real Estate advised Prime Box. The sale closes one chapter in Asda’s estate reshaping, but more importantly it opens the door to another large-format warehouse being returned to active service in a market where modern, well-powered space remains hard to find.
