Virgin Wines agrees major letting - wine retailer employs significant local workforce. 19 Aug 2026, 08:10 Virgin Wines has taken two units totalling 82,000 sq ft at the second phase of a £100m industrial and logistics scheme in Lancashire. The latest phase of APTUS is being brought forward by Origin, a joint venture between Feldberg Capital and HBD, part of Henry Boot. One of the UK's most prominent wine retailers, Virgin Wines has been based in Preston for more than 20 years and employs a significant local workforce. The move will see it relocate from older premises nearby into modern, high-specification space designed to support its future growth. The deal, completed in advance of practical completion in November 2026, leaves just one 25,000 sq ft unit remaining within phase two. Meanwhile, work continues to progress well across the rest of the 62-acre scheme, with a 145,000 sq ft manufacturing facility for Kerakoll under construction. Once complete, APTUS will provide a total of 790,000 sq ft of I&L space close to Junction 31A of the M6 and will support as many as 1,500 jobs. The deal forms part of a series of recent lettings across Origin's portfolio. Relay Tech has taken a 250,000 sq ft unit at SPARK, Walsall, alongside a 18,300 sq ft letting to one of the UK's largest energy suppliers, while a manufacturing business has pre-let a 53,800 sq ft unit at ARK, Markham Vale. Together, the transactions mean 66 per cent of Origin's current 711,000 sq ft portfolio is now either let or under offer. Ed Hutchinson, chief executive at Henry Boot, said: "Securing these significant lettings reflects both the quality of the Origin portfolio and the depth of occupier demand for modern, sustainable industrial and logistics space in well-connected locations. "Each deal has set new headline rents in its respective location and further supports our confidence in the portfolio's income and capital growth potential as we continue to deliver projects aligned with the needs of leading occupiers." Jamie Acheson, managing director at Feldberg Capital, added: "These lettings provide further evidence of the strength of occupier demand for high-quality mid-box logistics space in strategic UK locations. "The pace of leasing activity across the portfolio reinforces our conviction in the sector and demonstrates the value of Origin's development-led approach. As we continue to grow the platform, we remain focused on creating assets that align with occupier requirements while delivering attractive opportunities for investors." APTUS has been designed to meet the evolving needs of modern occupiers, combining excellent connectivity with net zero carbon capability, EV charging infrastructure, PV panels and a 15-acre landscaped environment. The agents for APTUS are Newmark, Young & Co and Eckersley Property.

Relay Technologies, a logistics startup co-founded by Jonathan Jensson and Nicole Mazza, has secured a $35M Series A funding round led by Plural, with support from Project A and Prologis. The funding will aid Relay's expansion in the UK and beyond, enhancing logistics infrastructure and investing in AI and data analytics. The company partners with major retailers like Vinted and ASOS, aiming to revolutionize parcel delivery with a decentralized network model.