Big opportunities in small boxes – but real M&E related challenges too
A recent report from Savills and Potter Space – ‘Big Things in Small Boxes’, highlights the growing importance of small-to-mid-sized industrial & logistics (I&L) units – a part of the market that is often overlooked, yet incredibly widespread.
Darren Sissons – Director in our M&E team, commented:
“From an M&E perspective, these units are often poorly maintained, which drives up refurbishment costs and can affect viability. In many cases, services are beyond their economic life and require replacement rather than repair. Combined with a lack of ongoing investment to meet current regulations, the gap to bring these buildings up to standard becomes much greater. However, there is a real opportunity to develop low-cost, high-efficiency refurbishment templates by aligning MEP and energy strategies.”
This insight closely aligns with our experience on projects in this space.
Case Study:
Project: Compass West, West Rd, London, N17 0XL
Project Spec: Working on behalf of a large UK property fund, we’ve been involved in the refurbishment of an industrial scheme comprising 17 small-to-medium warehouse units (13 of which we’ve worked on).
Our Role:
- Undertaking an EPC step-change report for the entire site, targeting Net Zero.
- Producing individual EPC step-change reports and specifications for each unit.
- Supporting delivery through contract monitoring, including specialist technology subcontractors.
- Reviewing contractor working drawings, carrying out site inspections, and assisting with tender and pricing reviews.
Projects like Compass West demonstrate both the challenge and opportunity highlighted in the report – particularly how a structured, scalable approach to MEP and energy upgrades can unlock value across ageing industrial stock.
For the full report & further information, click here.
