Gazeley - Retail Sale - Southampton International Park

Date: 03 Sep 2002

Gazeley Properties has sold the freehold of one of the last remaining plots of land at its successful Southampton International Park. Mercedes-Benz retailer, Pentagon Ltd, has purchased the 0.95 hectare (2.34 acre) site for a figure in excess of £2 million.

Eastleigh Council has approved proposals for the luxury car showroom and associated workshops and construction is scheduled to start on site in September with completion anticipated for summer 2003.

The 2,848 sq m (30,657 sq ft) facility will include a 780 sq m (8396 sq ft) car showroom, 16 vehicle expanded workshop with an associated parts department, MOT centre and diagnostics lane. The facility, designed to provide the ultimate in customer care, will feature a ‘drum area’ incorporating a modern café for customer interaction.

Pentagon is one of 35 key business partners selected by DaimlerChrysler to establish an expanded retail network for Mercedes-Benz across the UK. The company already operates passenger car outlets in Portsmouth and Southampton and will be opening another site in Chichester in the autumn.

Malcolm Sonnex, Pentagon’s operations director, added: “Eastleigh will be the hub of a new regional structure that we are putting in place to enhance sales and after sales facilities for existing and prospective customers.”

The showroom has been designed by Ian Penrose Architects, with Rokbuild carrying out the development on behalf of Pentagon Ltd.

The prominent site, which fronts the M27, was previously sold to Premier Hotels but repurchased by Gazeley after the hotel operator went into liquidation.

Southampton International Park is located off Junction 5 of the M27 motorway at Eastleigh, five miles from the city centre, adjacent to Southampton Parkway railway station and Southampton International Airport.

Commenting on the deal, Katie Hughes development director for Gazeley comments:
“Southampton International Park’s proximity to the airport and Parkway rail station has always made it attractive to both distribution and other non-warehouse users. Pentagon has certainly purchased a prime site for its contemporary showroom.”

The final remaining plot of land at the Southampton International Park is earmarked for a hotel development. A planning application has been lodged with Eastleigh Council for a 121-bedroom budget hotel. A planning decision is expected in September.

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