Supremely located Hornby industrial land on the market

A large industrial-zoned site near the corner of Marshs Rd and Shands Rd in Hornby is likely to be considered the best-located remaining site in western Christchurch for industrial occupiers, according to the Savills brokers handling its sale.

Mitchell Ryder, Benjamin Dwan and Greg O’Brien of Savills Christchurch industrial team are marketing the 1.5 hectare site at 187 Marshs Rd, Christchurch, for sale by deadline private treaty closing 26 July.

The freehold site is “the last piece of the puzzle” on the western edge of the vast Hornby industrial area, says Ryder.

“This property is the last available block of heavy industrial land in the immediate area. It’s bordered by the new Southern Motorway under construction and the Hornby Quadrant industrial development, where a major industrial park on over 200 hectares of land is being built.”

The site, which includes a four-bedroom home tenanted for 12 months, is “supremely located for future industrial development”, Ryder says.

“187 Marshs Road is less than 100 metres from the corner of Shands Road and Marshs Road. This intersection will soon be the main access point to the Southern Motorway extension which is due to be completed in early 2020.”

The new Shands Road on and off-ramps will cater to all heavy vehicle movements to and from the Hornby industrial area. This access is expected make the site highly desirable to industrial occupiers, he says.

“When the motorway extension opens, this area will be considered the best-located industrial land in the west of Christchurch, with its future occupants benefiting from quicker and easier access to the motorway than the vast majority of other businesses in the wider Hornby area.”

The shape of the property at 187 Marshs Rd is also naturally conducive to future industrial development, with its dual road access points and U-shape which eliminates the need for the future owner to set aside extra space for truck manoeuvring within the site boundaries, he says.

187 Marshs Rd comes to the market following the recent sale of three neighbouring sites, at 191, 197 and 199 Marshs Rd, negotiated off-market by Savills Christchurch industrial team on behalf of individual owners.

The three heavy industrial-zoned properties, which make up 9,048sq m of land area in total and are also currently under residential use, were considered strategic by prospective purchasers because of their location adjacent to the upcoming Southern Motorway ramps, Ryder says.

“These sites had very high appeal among the potential buyers we approached, owing to the position right on the Shands Road interchange to the Southern Motorway extension,” he says.

Demand for industrial land in Hornby remains extremely strong and the area is still one of the most sought-after industrial locations in Christchurch since its resurgence following the Canterbury earthquakes, with development continuing at a rapid pace, says Ryder.

“The western edge of the city remains a preferred location for industrial occupiers, developers and investors because of its modern building stock and high-quality land as well as local roading improvements.”

The Southern Motorway extension has been a big driver of continuing demand for industrial property in Hornby, he says. 

“This is one of the most significant roading projects in Canterbury’s history, which will bring benefits for property owners and occupiers in key locations along its route including Hornby and Rolleston.”

The Shands Rd interchange will be a vital link for local industry because of its position next to the Hornby Quadrant industrial park and it is also within easy reach of businesses in the wider Hornby industrial area, Ryder adds.

Businesses which are already located in the Hornby Quadrant development and on neighbouring land include Foodstuffs, Progressive Enterprises, Maxwell Logistics, Move Logistics, Sleepyhead, Fletcher Easysteel and Transpacific Industries.