Location

Darlington is a popular market town in County Durham being a constituent member of the Tees Valley Combined Authority. It lies approximately 23 km (14 miles) west of Middlesbrough, 32 km (20 miles) south of Durham, 48 km (30 miles) south of Newcastle and 80 km (50 miles) north of York.

The town benefits from good transport links across the region, being located adjacent to the A1(M) and A66. Darlington Mainline Railway Station provides direct mainline national rail links with a fastest journey time of approximately 2 hours 20 minutes to London Kings Cross and 2 hours 10 minutes to Edinburgh. The station is presently undergoing a significant £105m regeneration to provide three additional platforms which will further improve connectivity.

In addition, Teesside International Airport lies approximately 11 km (7 miles) to the east, providing a range of domestic and commercial international flights with services expected to increase through the recent majority share public acquisition through the Tees Valley Combined Authority. Newcastle International Airport is approximately 68 km (42 miles) to the north and Leeds Bradford Airport approximately 93 km (58 miles) to the south.

Darlington is a principal commercial and regional centre and incorporates a number of large business occupiers and public sector services. The town has recently attracted HM Treasury North and The International Department for Trade which follow the opening of the regional Amazon Fulfilment Centre in 2019. Other major employers in the town include EE, Capita and Northgate PLC among others.

The town’s strategic location and transport links provide a good talent pool for employers and the demographics of the town have been increasingly recognised by employers enjoying a staff pool from Co. Durham, Tees Valley, North Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear. Darlington enjoys a rich industrial heritage and remains a strategic location for manufacturing and trade. Significant trade related businesses include Whessoe Engineering, Cummins, Henry Williams, Nobia UK (Magnet) and Mech-Tool.

The town’s local technology college and Teesside University’s Darlington Campus are approximately five minutes walking distance from the subject property and Darlington is also home to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College. The town services an estimated resident student population of around 25,000.

The region is also set to benefit from Teesworks – Tees Valley Freeport. Extending to around 4,500 acres Teewsworks is the largest freeport in the UK, expected to contribute £1 billion a year to the wider Tees Valley economy and create 20,000 new jobs.

Summary

Freehold office & industrial opportunity
Multi-let, providing an attractive spread of income
Diverse and established tenant mix with sustained strong occupancy levels
1.87 acre site with 125 car parking spaces
Strategic location in an established employment area
Potential to enhance value and income through asset management strategies
VAT-free investment
£1,500,000, subject to contract
17.9% gross yield
Potential gross reversionary yield – 22%
£321 per sq m / £29.87 per sq ft Capital Value

Situation

Enterprise House occupies a prominent position fronting Valley Street North, approximately 0.8 km (0.5 miles) north of Darlington town centre. The location lies adjacent to the A167 (North Road) and B6279 (Haughton Road) which link directly with the A1(M) and A66 respectively.

The immediate area is a mixed commercial location and established occupiers in the vicinity include Halfords, JD Gyms, Bannatyne Health Club & Spa, Jewson, MKM Building Supplies and Enterprise Rent a Car amongst a diverse variety of local businesses.

There are a number of notable development/ regeneration projects in close proximity including:

Darlington Economic Campus – proposed office campus for HM Treasury North and Department for International Trade. Expected to create in excess of 1,000 jobs – approximately five minutes walking distance.
£105m re-generation of Darlington Railway Station to provide three new platforms and enhanced visitor experience through the re-generation of Victoria Road – less than 1.6 km (1 mile) to the south.
Refurbishment of Darlington Covered Market to provide a street food scene and events space – approximately ten minutes walking distance. Darlington Council has recently pledged to invest £800,000 in the market for further redevelopment.
Private sector development of DL1 Leisure Complex incorporating Vue Cinema, Nandos, Bella Italia, Tomahawk Steakhouse and 80-bed Premier Inn – approximately ten minutes walking distance.

Description

The property comprises a detached office and commercial facility arranged over ground and two upper floors. We understand the main building was constructed in the 1970’s of traditional brick construction with reinforced concrete held under a flat felt covered roof.

To the rear are three single-storey light industrial units comprising warehouse and office accommodation under pitched corrugated profile metal sheet roofs served with roller shutter access.

Internally the accommodation is arranged to provide 27 lettings suites providing floorplates ranging from 60 sq m to 358 sq m (650 sq ft to 3,849 sq ft) and totalling 4,665 sq m (50,209 sq ft).

The principal access is via the shared Reception and Car Park and each letting suite is separately served for utilities and incorporates its own heating source.

The specification includes:

Main communal entrance with large reception area and meeting room.
Versatile suites with potential to sub-divide/ amalgamate to suit occupier requirements.
Suspended Ceilings
Platform Lift
Ramped Accessible Entrance
Cat 5 Networking and Cabling
Gas and Electric heating to units
125 marked car parking spaces in private surfaced car park

Accommodation

We understand the property has a total Gross Internal Area of 4,665 sq m (50,209 sq ft). Please refer to the tenancy schedule for individual unit sizes.

A set of floor plans is available to download.

Site

We estimate the site area to be approximately 0.76 hectares (1.87 acres).

Rateable Value

To view the rateable value of the units, please visit www.tax.service.gov.uk/business-rates-find and enter the property’s postcode (DL1 1GY).

Tenure

Freehold.

Tenancies

Enterprise House is multi-let in accordance with the tenancy schedule which is available to download. The leases are drawn on standard full repairing and insuring terms.

The property provides a diverse spread of income with the suites predominantly occupied by established SME’s.

At the time of preparing these particulars (3rd April 2023), out of a total of 29 suites there are currently five vacant, with a total passing rent of £205,257.66 per annum.

In addition, tenants are charged a maintenance rent towards common repairs, maintenance and utilities. The maintenance rent totals £53,640.

The Landlord also separately charges the tenants for insurance. This totals £9,595.92 per annum.

Therefore, the total gross income receivable is £268,493.28 per annum.

Covenants

The tenants accounts, where published, are available to download. Please also refer to the Covenants Summary.

VAT

The property has not been registered for VAT and therefore VAT is not applicable on the purchase price.

Proposal

We are instructed to seek a figure of £1,500,000 (One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Pounds), subject to contract, reflecting a gross yield of 17.9%, a potential gross reversionary yield of 22% and a capital value of £321 per sq m / £29.87 per sq ft.

Please note that a purchaser will be re-charged the costs of the searches (£1,038.10 plus VAT) which are provided in the data room.

Please note that a purchaser will be charged a Transaction Fee of £10,000 + VAT.

Investment Considerations

An opportunity to acquire a popular, mixed-use investment in an established employment area;
The property is multi-let, providing an investor with an attractive spread of income;
Potential to enhance value and income through asset management strategies;
Freehold;
VAT-free investment;
A purchase at the asking price reflects a highly attractive double-digit yield and capital value of under £30 per sq ft for an investor;

Contacts

Singer Vielle
Singer Vielle	+44 (0) 207 935 7200
Dale Henry	+44 (0) 203 701 1356 dale@singervielle.co.uk
Vendor's Solicitor Firm
BBS Law	+44 (0) 161 832 2500
Eoin Murphy	+44 (0) 161 302 8365 eoin@bbslaw.co.uk

See website for full details : https://singervielle.com

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All Properties are listed subject to contract and the prices shown are exclusive of VAT if applicable.

High Yielding, Multi Let Office and Industrial Investment