Trio of deals completed at the UK’s first multi-storey industrial scheme
Be First, the regeneration arm of Barking & Dagenham Council, has completed three deals at Industria – the innovative and sustainable industrial scheme that launched in 2023. The scheme has been built to provide employment space for local businesses and help the growth of SMEs in the borough.
CC Dist UK Limited, an electric mobility products business selling goods like electric wheelchairs and electric scooters, has taken 3,024 sq. ft. of space on a 5-year lease in Unit 4 at Industria, located on the ground floor of the building.
Samosa Haus, a South Asian commercial baking business selling staples like samosas, parathas, curries, and biryani, has taken 1,258 sq. ft. of space on a 5-year lease in Unit 36, on the top floor of the scheme in the Creative Spaces block.
Card Galaxy, a trading card distribution business selling rare cards from collectors game like Pokémon, has taken 882 sq. ft. of space on a 5-year lease at Unit 43 on the top floor of the development.
In total, the three deals have seen over 5,000 sq. ft. of floorspace being leased at Industria, with the scheme comprising over 100,000 sq. ft. of industrial floorspace in two connected buildings, one of three and one of four floors.
Across the two connected buildings, 45 industrial units are available that have been arranged around three levels of loading bays and service yards. The workspaces inside range from 20 to 450 sq. m., providing a mixture of SME and Flatted Factory units providing potential employment for up to 300 people.
Industria incorporates a range of sustainability features, aiming to reach BREEAM Excellent standards, providing 2,000 sq. m. of photovoltaic solar panels and include green wall landscaping. Additionally, the development is a stacked industrial scheme to minimise the required land, it boasts energy-efficient services and controls, and is heated using an air source heat pump.
Mehmet Sutcu, Founder of CC Dist UK Limited, said: “One of the biggest advantages of moving into Industria is the height of our unit – it’s 8 metres tall, providing us with the space to convert some of the unit into a showroom, something we weren’t able to do in our former workspace.
“Knowing there’s 24-hour security and that we have 24-hour access is also greatly reassuring. Furthermore, all the staff are very helpful and friendly, helping to create a great atmosphere and sense of community which I find particularly important given Industria’s focus on SMEs.”
Ambereen Mujtabta, Founder of Samosa Haus, said: “Industria is a very modern and forward-looking development and this was apparent from our first visit to the site. It stood out as the ideal place for us to grow our business in a collaborative environment with great amenities and connections.
“The emphasis on creating a community of like-minded businesses was a big selling point for us – we come from humble beginnings and our business started as a family-run one, so this focus chimes with our own story and values.”
Aqib Malik, Co-Founder of Card Galaxy, said: “We loved the look of Industria on first sight – it provides a bigger space to cater for our current needs, but we can also see ourselves expanding further by moving into a larger unit here as we grow.
“The sustainability elements of the scheme were also important for us – we want to do our bit to help the environment and this is yet another box that Industria ticked for us. We had seen other units that were slightly larger, but they weren’t as refined and didn’t have the sustainability credentials, which tipped the scales in Industria’s favour. We can’t wait to get to know our new neighbours and to see what the future holds here.”
Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said:
“I’d like to extend a warm Barking and Dagenham welcome to these new businesses making use of the impressive space available at Industria. Once again Barking and Dagenham council as led the way via Be First and McLaren in developing logistics and industrial stacked spaces in the UK, with Industria being the first of its kind in the UK.”
Alex Peck, Senior Development Manager at Be First, said: “These three deals encapsulate what Industria is all about – supporting local businesses and putting them at the heart of our local economy. We’re delighted to welcome CC Dist UK Limited, Samosa Haus, and Card Galaxy to Industria and we look forward to seeing the building fill up with more businesses and hope the communal spaces within the development will promote collaboration between them.”
Industria is located in the heart of the River Road Employment Area, a Strategic Industrial Location (SIL) within the London Plan. This area is adjacent to the A13 and close to new Barking Riverside station and pier and is home to many businesses that support the London economy.
Be First was represented by JLL and LSH for all deals.
