The Atterbury group and Truworths have inked a deal for the creation of a new distribution centre in Cape Town.

The clothing retailer’s new facility will be built in King Air Industria, which is an Atterbury Property and Old Mutual Properties development.

Truworths will lease the new building, which will consolidate all its various Cape Town facilities under one roof.

The development’s 53 000 m2 initial phase consists of a 3 000 m2 office and 50 000 m2warehouse, and includes the option to expand to 70 000 m2.

Designed to target the internationally recognised EDGE sustainability certification, the development will break ground this month, with the building scheduled for completion in September next year.

“As a result of business growth, we have spent some time looking to build a larger, state-of-the-art distribution centre to accommodate our future requirements,” says Truworths CFO Emanuel Cristaudo.

“This positions us well for the future and we are looking forward to the completion of this project.”

The value of the development has not been disclosed.

Atterbury’s King Air Industria development manager Arno du Plessis adds that the development roll-out of King Air Industria is making “excellent progress and attracting a high calibre of businesses that want to be near the airport, but also seek quality, efficient premises that support both their business and sustainability goals”.

King Air Industria is located between Airport Approach, Borcherds Quarry, Robert Sobukwe and Pallotti roads, and connected to the city and inland region with access to the N2 and R300 freeways.

The 72 ha development is already home to The Courier Guy, operating in a 10 112 m2 facility, and Morgan Cargo, operating in a 7 500 m2 provincial head office building that includes a specialised cold storage facility.

“We are enjoying great leasing momentum in the Western Cape, not only at King Air Industria, but also at other properties, including Richmond Park, where the demand-driven development roll-out is proceeding at an exciting pace,” says Atterbury leasing manager Mia Kitshoff.

Atterbury has signed a deal with online retailer Takealot for a 20 400 m2 second phase of its Richmond Park distribution facility, which will take the total size to 44 000 m2 when it is completed in June next year.

The property group has also signed hardware retailer Brights for a 6 000 m2 facility, which will be completed in November next year.