THE OLD SORTING OFFICE Charlton Green Dover CT16 1AA
The Old Sorting Office, Charlton Green, Dover CT16 1AA Dover Priory Railway Station The Old Sorting Office
Summary An attractive redevelopment opportunity close to Dover Town Centre. Prominently located at the foothill of the Connaught Park area with views of Dover Castle to the east and St Peter and Paul Church to the west. Good communications with road access via the A2 trunk road from the north or the A20 motorway to the west. Journey time to the M25 is around 1 hour 10 minutes. A high-speed rail service is available from Dover Priory via Ashford to London St Pancras International with a journey time of just 66 minutes. Total existing accommodation of 45,931sq ft (39,396 sq m) GIA and 39,396 sq ft (3,671 sq m) NIA on a site area of 0.689 ha (1.702 acres). The entire premises is let to UKresettlement. The net rental income is 60,000 per annum reflecting a low average passing rent of 1.52 psf. Pre-application for a redevelopment scheme comprising 65 dwellings consisting of 21 social housing units and 44 private housing units. The proposed total area of the site is 77,232 sq ft of mixed use accommodation. Immediate vacant possession available upon completion. Proposal Seeking unconditional offers for the freehold interest in excess of 1,800,000, reflecting a low capital value of 45.69 psf.
Location The property is situated in a mixed use area on the east side of Charlton Green, immediately to the south of its junction with Bridge Street / Frith Road and approximately 0.5 miles to the north west of Dover Town Centre. The Dover District has a residential population of just under 111,200 and is the 4th largest population in Kent. Dover Town Centre is home to a wide range of independent retailers, including Dover s only purpose built shopping centre, The Charlton Centre. Dover s shops stretch for over 1 mile offering everything from art, crafts and quality gifts to books, marine supplies and musical instruments all are interspersed with cafes and tea rooms. Amongst these small shops are Marks & Spencer, Greggs, Primark and Argos. Opposite the property, on the west side of Charlton Green, runs the River Dour, beyond which is a retail park, anchored on Morrisons and Asda supermarkets. The channel port of Dover is situated in east Kent, some 70 miles south-east of London, and approximately 15 miles to the south east of the cathedral city of Canterbury. Lying in the valley of the River Dour, Dover is now a major port for freight and passenger traffic to the continent, being overlooked from the east by the 12th century castle and from the west by the Napoleonic fortifications on the Western Heights. To the north of the property in Bridge Street are further retail units occupied by Halfords and Carpetright, but otherwise the area is principally of residential character enveloped with terraced housing to the north, south and east sides. The Port of Dover is currently undergoing a 85 million upgrade programme focused on the Eastern Docks which is being delivered at the same time as the Port has recently committed to investing up to 120 million in phase one of the Dover Western Docks Revival Project, the biggest single investment ever made by the Port. Together, such investments are transforming the Port as well as improving the surrounding community of Dover.
Transport Communications to the town are good, with road links via the A\M2 and A/M20 and easy access to the rest of the UK motorway and trunk road network. Journey time to the M25 is around 1 hour 10 minutes. A high-speed rail service is now available from Dover Priory via Ashford to London St Pancras International with a journey time of just 1 hour. In addition to the cross channel ferry services, the port now attracts international passenger liners. Dover is the world s busiest roll on roll off ferry port. Ferries depart Dover every 20 minutes to Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque. Journey time from Dover to Calais takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Port of Dover also serves as a major International Cruise ship terminal, with up to 120 cruise ships visiting the Port each year. Dover is only 15 minutes away from the Channel Tunnel, 25 minutes from the International Passenger Station at Ashford and approximately one hour away from Ebbsfleet which is now the main International Station. Folkestone is 9.9 miles via the A20 and takes only a 15 minute drive from Dover. The journey time from Folkestone to Calais, France is only 35 minutes, with up to 4 shuttles per hour.
Description The property comprises a substantial building, formerly occupied by Royal Mail as a sorting office, but now converted and adapted to provide serviced accommodation for offices, training, an auction house and a gymnasium. It occupies a rectangular site with an area of 0.689 ha (1.702 acres). The existing property is arranged over ground and one upper floor in two wings with a central reception area. To the rear of this main block are a number of intercommunicating single-storey steel framed industrial type buildings in six principal bays. Adjoining the southern boundary of the site and facing the car park is a detached, single-storey light industrial/workshop building. Adjoining the west elevation is a concrete yard set at a lower level and accessed via an archway. The remainder of the site is laid to concrete, with parking set out for approximately 58 vehicles. Demise/Floor Use GIA (sq ft) GIA (sq m) NIA (sq ft) NIA (sq m) Basement Storage and boiler room 2,516 234 Ground Floor Gymnasium, offices, workshop, etc 31,075 2,888 27,370 2,553 First floor Offices, Refectory etc 10,390 965 10,051 934 Detached workshop Workshop 1,950 181 1,975 184 TOTAL 45,931 4,268 39,396 3,671
Tenure The property is held under the freehold title number K563712. Tenancy The property is primarily set up to provide serviced accommodation which is occupied on basis of flexible leases or licences, a full tenancy schedule is available upon request. The entire premises is let to UKresettlement at a net rental income is 60,000 per annum from 16th January 2014, reflecting a low average passing rent of 1.52 psf. The lease start date was on 15th January 2014 with expiry on 28th June 2014. The tenant is holding over and vacant possession is available upon completion. 5 15 45 PH 1 48 Chitty's Barn 29 CHARLTON 2 GREEN The Old Sorting Office 16 32 1 to 4 7 to 10 Fulmar House 25 11 to 12 5 to 6 Superstore El Sub Sta 58 PH 24 ALBERT ROAD 31 59 4
Design Proposal The property is located within the town of Dover and falls within the planning control of the Dover District Council. It is not listed and not located in a conservation area. The property has been subject to a preliminary residential scheme and a first positive pre-application enquiry was submitted in August 2014. The proposed development consists of demolishing the former sorting office and fully redevelop the site to provide 65 dwelling units consisting of 21 social housing units and 44 private housing units. The proposed total area of the site is 77,232 sq ft of mixed use accommodation. Key Parametres Sq M. Sq Ft Total Commercial Area 700 7,535 Total Social Housing 2,190 23,573 Total Private Housing 4,285 46,124 Total Built Area 7,175 77,232 Amenity Space 4,635 49,891
Business Rates The rateable value for the entire property is as follows: Sorting office and premises (Post Office) - 88,500 Offices and premises (Customs and Excise) - 13,500 Offices and premises (TPF) - 8,900 EPC The Old Royal Mail Sorting Office has a current overall EPC rating of C (73). A copy of the EPC is available upon request. VAT The property is elected for VAT. It is intended that the sale will be treated as a Transfer of a Going Concern. Proposal We are seeking offers for the freehold interest in excess of 1,800,000, reflecting a low capital value of 45.69 psf.
Contacts Jonathan Martyr Email: jonathan.martyr@levyllp.co.uk Tel: 0207 747 0123 Henry Leighton Email: henry.leighton@levyllp.co.uk Tel: 0207 747 0126 Barron Randall Email: barron.randall@levyllp.co.uk Tel: 0207 747 0127 MISREPRESENTATION ACT 1967 LEVY REAL ESTATE LLP for themselves and for the Vendors or Lessors of this property whose agents they are given notice that: all descriptions, dimensions, reference to condition and necessary permissions for use and occupation and other details are unless otherwise stated indicative only. Any intending purchasers or tenants should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact or as warranties but must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each of them. Any services mentioned have not been tested and therefore prospective occupiers should satisfy themselves as to their operation. These particulars are produced in good faith and set out a general guide only and do not constitute part of any offer or contract. No person in the employment of Levy Real Estate LLP has any authority to make or give representation or warranty in relation to this property. All prices and rents are quotes exclusive of VAT unless otherwise stated. January 2015. Adrian Gates Photography & Brochures 07710 316991