Building surveying for Majestic

Client: Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd

Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

Services: Pre-acquisition leasehold surveying, lease assignment, preparation of specification of works, project management and contract administration

The Brief 

Brasier Freeth’s Building Surveying Team was instructed to carry out a building survey of a 66,000 sq. ft. high bay warehouse for leasehold acquisition by Majestic Wine Warehouses – the largest wine specialist in the UK.

The proposed acquisition involved the assignment of the existing leasehold interest and our Building Surveying Team worked very closely with our Business Space Agency Team.

The Journey

The warehouse was situated adjacent to the Buncefield fuel depot in Hemel Hempstead.  The survey included an appraisal of the post-explosion repairs and a review of the continued consequential effects of the Buncefield blast upon the building structure. The survey identified a number of structural defects to the steel frame. This resulted in extensive negotiations involving the Landlords, their Agents and the Assignors and consequentially Brasier Freeth negotiated a reverse premium to compensate for the Assignors existing Dilapidations liabilities and additionally an agreement with the Landlords regarding a reduced liability for possible structural deterioration.

Following the negotiation of the assignment of the lease by Business Space Agency colleagues, our Building Surveying team was once again instructed to prepare a detailed Specification of Works to refurbish the property and to develop our client’s brief to fit-out both the office and warehouse premises.

Following the successful lease assignment, we were instructed to Project Manage the refurbishment of the warehouse to create a state-of-the-art distribution depot and support office. Our Team was on hand at every step of the refurbishment, handling the tender process and managing contractors and dealing with utilities. We also provided comprehensive contract administration services, monitoring and reporting on both compliance and the financials.

The Results

Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd successfully moved their central Head Office to their newly acquired and refurbished site. Just three months later their Distribution Centre followed, relocating to their new, larger, modern facility to support their future growth.

Following the success of this project, Brasier Freeth has since been instructed to advise and support Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd on a variety of Dilapidations instructions throughout the country.  We also secured a further instruction to survey and assist on the acquisition of a warehouse unit adjacent to this one.