Specialist logistics developer Padrock has secured a landmark letting at its €111m Grade A Dagenham Logistics Hub, with destination tool trade retailer ITS committing to a 1,644 m2 unit on an eight-year lease, in a deal that signals the growing appetite for high-specification, sustainability-led industrial space within the M25.
ITS, which was established in 1979 and operates more than 29,000 product lines with next-day delivery, will open what it describes as London's largest tool superstore across two floors at the scheme, with the flagship trade counter and warehouse facility due to open in April. The Harlow-headquartered retailer is simultaneously preparing to launch a new Luton superstore, underscoring an aggressive regional expansion strategy that now spans Harlow, Walthamstow, Chelmsford, Dagenham and Luton.
"The opening of our Dagenham superstore marks a major milestone for ITS and underlines our continued investment in London and the wider region," said Elliott Williams, spokesperson for ITS. "At 17,700 sq ft, this destination branch will give trade professionals and DIY customers access to an unrivalled product range, increased stock availability and a purpose-built trade counter designed to deliver a truly first-class retail experience. Dagenham Logistics Hub stood out for its prime position within East London, high-quality specification and strong sustainability credentials. The scheme aligns perfectly with our long-term growth strategy and our commitment to operating from modern, future-ready facilities."
Dagenham Logistics Hub comprises 14 leasehold industrial and warehouse units ranging from 609 m2 to 3,234 m2, all carrying BREEAM 'Excellent' and EPC 'A+' ratings. Each unit features photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points and low air permeability design, a combination that is increasingly non-negotiable for occupiers navigating tightening ESG reporting requirements. For investors and developers tracking the market, this calibre of specification is directly influencing lease length and covenant quality, with ITS's eight-year commitment a tangible demonstration of how future-proofed design reduces letting risk and drives long-income returns in urban logistics assets.
"ITS is an outstanding retail business, so we are very pleased to welcome the company to Dagenham Logistics Hub," said Jamie Young, investment and development manager at Padrock. "The company's flagship facility reinforces our scheme as a destination trade retail cluster, aligning with our sustainability-led vision and underpinning a collaborative trade and logistics hub. This letting reflects the continued depth of demand we see from both trade and last-mile occupiers for Grade A sustainable space with excellent connectivity within the M25. Dagenham Logistics Hub provides all of this and more which, in turn, continues to drive significant occupier interest in the remaining units."
Strategically positioned between the A12 and A13 East London arterial roads, with Dagenham East Underground station 0.6 miles away, the scheme sits at the intersection of last-mile logistics and trade retail, a hybrid cluster model gaining traction with developers across European urban fringe markets. Padrock's wider UK portfolio includes Leyton Logistics Hub, Erith Logistics Hub in south east London, and Hertford Logistics Hub, with the London-headquartered developer and asset manager continuing to expand its logistics and light-industrial footprint across the UK and Europe. Agents for the scheme are M1 Agency and Ryan and Glenny.
People mentioned
Companies mentioned
- Padrock, specialist logistics developer and asset manager, headquartered in London, active across the UK and Europe
- ITS (Industrial Tool Supplies), destination tool trade retailer, headquartered in Harlow
- Dagenham Logistics Hub, Grade A industrial and warehouse development, Dagenham, East London
- M1 Agency, letting agent for Dagenham Logistics Hub
- Ryan and Glenny, letting agent for Dagenham Logistics Hub
