Polish international automotive parts and components supplier AS-PL opens new operation in Liverpool – its first regional base in the UK. Tony McDonough reports
A Polish business that supplies automotive parts and components to customers in 100 countries has opened a new base in Liverpool which is its first in the UK outside London.
AS-PL was founded in Gdańsk under the name Auto-Starter in 1992. It now has bases in multiple European countries. The firm works with distributors and wholesalers of spare parts and accessories for vehicles all over the world. It opened its first UK base in London in 2017.
Its new Liverpool operation is based at the Mersey Reach industrial estate in Aintree. AS-PL has taken a 7,724 sq ft unit. It is one of three new tenants at the site.
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has taken a 29,653 sq ft warehouse while a St Helens-based business that trains scaffolders, Richard Bright, has taken a 7,272 sq ft unit. All the latest lettings are in phase two of Mersey Reach.
Kamil Olejniczak, regional sales director at AS-PL, said: “After the success of opening warehouses in Italy and Spain we were prepared for the next step.
“The decision to expand our warehouse in the UK was dictated by the high demand for AS brand products in this region.
“From now on, our customers will have access to an even wider range of products, and deliveries will take place much faster.”
B8 Real Estate and JLL acted as joint agents on behalf of the landlord, Northwood Urban Logistics. The latest arrivals – who have all signed a 10-year lease at a rent of £8.50 per sq ft – join the two existing tenants.
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They are TF Solutions, an air conditioning provider and subsidiary of Travis Perkins, and security products distributor Fortus UK. Both signed up late last year and now operate trade counters from the site.
Mersey Reach is located on Dunnings Bridge Road, one of the busiest arterial roads into Liverpool with 40,000 passing vehicles each day. The scheme was developed by Chancerygate and subsequently sold to Northwood Urban Logistics.
Phase one tenants include Selco Builders Warehouse, Hardy, Happy Drinks, CNC Robotics, Euro Garages and Starbucks.
Phase two – which comprises 102,500 sq ft of space in 12 units – was completed in summer 2022. Following the latest lettings, phase two is now 60% occupied.
Thomas Marriott, from the agency team at B8 Real Estate, said: ”We continue to see strong levels of occupier demand in and around Liverpool for multi-let industrial estate accommodation.
“Mersey Reach phase two is helping to plug the gap in the market for high-quality industrial space in this part of Merseyside.”
Mersey Reach was developed with support from Sefton Council’s business growth team, InvestSefton, and is expected to provide employment for up to 350 people when complete.