Harworth Buys into Temple Green

Harworth Estates has purchased Keyland Developments’ 50% share interest in the 165 acre Temple Green logistics hub in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone.

Keyland, which is the property trading business of Kelda Group and a sister company of Yorkshire Water, has sold its 50% share in The Aire Valley Land LLP to Harworth, with the latter becoming 50:50 partner in Temple Green with Evans Property Group. Keyland was represented by Gent Visick and Harworth acted on its own behalf.

Temple Green is the single largest employment site in the Leeds City Region with planning permission in place for 2.64m sq ft of commercial space at Junction 45 of the M1.  It is recognised as the largest industrial and distribution development to emerge in Leeds for over a generation.

With a £9.1m infrastructure programme close to completion at the site, it will soon be oven-ready for large scale development with guaranteed delivery timescales.  Harworth will now contribute its extensive experience in bringing forward large commercial sites, such as Logistics North in Bolton, to generate development on a key strategic site for Leeds in partnership with Evans Property Group.  The site also sits adjacent to Harworth’s existing landholding at the 162 acre former Skelton Grange power station – providing the potential for future complementary uses.

Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said; “We are delighted to have worked with Evans Property Group to bring Temple Green to this pivotal stage and our joint vision for this incredible scheme is now being realised. The industrial sector both regionally and across the country is really gaining momentum and both investor and occupier appetite is strong. We have been busy preparing for sale a number strategic sites capable of accommodating large-scale industrial developments in order to attract inward investment and assist the regional industrial development pipeline.

“We will be growing our portfolio further with more redundant land from Yorkshire Water and by signing-up other major landowners via our Planning Promotional Agreements.  We are proud of what has been accomplished at Temple Green and look forward to utilising our expertise to bring back into use a number of new sites across the Yorkshire region.”

Ian Ball, Director of Asset Management at Harworth Estates, said; “This is a landmark deal for Harworth Estates and firmly establishes our foothold in the West Yorkshire property market.  We are looking forward to working in partnership with Evans Property Group to deliver a commercial scheme of national significance, building on our previous success at Logistics North in Bolton and the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.”

James Pitt, Development Director of Evans Property Group, said; “Evans Property Group remains committed to delivering this prime site in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, working with our key stakeholders’ Leeds City Council, The Leeds City Region LEP and DCLG to deliver the best logistics and manufacturing hub in the North. We look forward to working with Harworth Estates who will bring significant experience and complementary skills to the development at this exciting time of the project, as we complete the first phase of infrastructure works.”