The UK Government’s new Industrial Strategy Policy Paper, published in June 2025, sets out a bold, 10-year vision for economic renewal. Within the paper, logistics is no longer seen as a background enabler, it’s recognised as a strategic growth sector, vital to productivity, infrastructure resilience, and regional development. For Mountpark, this is a welcome shift reinforcing the relevance of its long-term development strategy and pivotal role in delivering the infrastructure the UK needs to grow.
The Industrial Strategy commits £600 million to a new Strategic Sites Accelerator, aimed at fast-tracking the development of investable logistics and industrial sites nationwide. Alongside this, proposed reforms to planning, grid connectivity, and freight corridors are designed to unlock private investment and accelerate delivery timelines.
These priorities closely mirror Mountpark’s long-standing approach to large-scale, strategically located developments that are designed to strengthen regional economies and enhance national supply chain resilience. At Mountpark Hinckley, this alignment is already evident. Construction is underway on a 1.46 million sq ft logistics park in the heart of the UK’s Golden Triangle, a key hub for national distribution. The project includes critical infrastructure upgrades to improve freight connectivity across the Midlands, directly responding to the government’s call for strategic investment and planning reform to support regional logistics capacity.
Further south, Mountpark Bristol 360 is another flagship project that shows Mountpark’s synergy with national policy. The facility has been let to Waitrose and will serve as the retailer’s fifth regional distribution centre. The site’s sustainability credentials, including BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating, solar generation, and battery storage, support the Industrial Strategy’s emphasis on decarbonisation and clean energy integration. Its location at Avonmouth, a key freight corridor, reinforces the government’s focus on unlocking regional clusters and improving access to strategic transport networks.
These developments are integral to Mountpark’s UK portfolio, exemplifying a commitment to infrastructure-led growth, targeted regional investment, and enhanced supply chain resilience. They reflect Mountpark’s aim to deliver high-quality logistics spaces that not only meet occupier needs, but also contribute meaningfully to industrial growth.
Recent market data reinforces the sector’s momentum. According to CBRE, logistics take-up rose by 34% in Q2 2025, reaching 6.7 million sq ft. Lambert Smith Hampton forecasts 40 million sq ft of take-up for the year, with prime rents expected to grow by 4%. The sector is projected to deliver annual returns of 8.4% between 2025 and 2028, underscoring its strength as an investment class and its critical role in the UK’s economic future.
While the Industrial Strategy sets out a bold vision for growth, recent analysis from Make UK highlights the challenges of turning ambition into reality. The UK has slipped in global innovation rankings and sits just 24th in robotic density, with only 112 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers. The report calls for a more coherent, long-term approach to automation and digitalisation, particularly for SMEs.
Mountpark’s developments go beyond physical infrastructure, they are designed to enable tech-driven, future-ready supply chains that support the UK’s economic resilience. By investing in strategic sites and delivering tailored, future-ready units, from cross-dock facilities to cold storage and automation infrastructure, Mountpark enables occupiers to scale efficiently and succeed. Its ability to translate ambition into delivery continues to attract leading firms across logistics, retail and manufacturing.
Mountpark’s strategic positioning also enables it to respond to global shifts in logistics demand. The rise of Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu has significantly increased the volume of small-item shipments into Europe. According to the European Commission, 4.6 billion low-value items under €150 were imported into the EU in 2024, double the figure from the previous year. This surge has created new demand for high-quality logistics space across the continent.
Mountpark’s partnership with Shein in Poland, where the company leases 730,000 sq ft at Mountpark Wroclaw, reflects this trend. With ongoing interest from Chinese occupiers across the UK and Europe, Mountpark continues to play a key role in supporting international retail distribution and cross-border e-commerce. These developments complement the UK’s industrial strategy by reinforcing the country’s position as a competitive and connected logistics hub for e-commerce giants.
As the UK advances its Industrial Strategy, Mountpark is positioned to support its delivery. With a robust pipeline, a deep commitment to industry innovation and responsible development, and a focus on strategic growth, the company is helping shape the future of logistics, driving sector success, attracting leading occupiers, and enabling infrastructure that powers national and European economies.
