Railpen signs significant pre-let as it begins redevelopment of 380,000 sq ft industrial facility in High Wycombe
Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme in the UK, have signed a significant pre-let agreement with RH Amar, one of the UK's leading food importers and distributors. RH Amar is to move to a new 94,756 sq ft state-of-the-art facility at the rebranded High Wycombe X industrial park.
The Grade A, sustainable headquarters will provide RH Amar with a new high-specification facility and increased capacity for future growth. Scheduled for completion in November 2025, with development already underway, the major pre-let reflects the strong demand for high-quality, sustainable industrial spaces in strategic locations.
The milestone agreement follows the securing of planning consent in 2023 on the wider estate and signals the first phase of Railpen's ambitious regeneration of High Wycombe X, formerly known as The Castle Estate. The phased development will deliver a further 287,000 sq ft across up to six highly specified industrial units, as well as parking, service yards, EV charging points and cycle parking.
The rebrand integrates the High Wycombe location into Railpen’s growing portfolio of X-branded industrial parks, joining Dartford X and Waltham X, with consent secured last year for a fourth site in South Mimms. All the facilities are strategically located and share common attributes that address occupier requirements in best-in-class industrial assets. The High Wycombe X buildings reflect this approach and have been designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, EPC A+ scores, and net-zero carbon in construction, underpinning Railpen’s commitments to sustainability.
Alastair Dawson, Senior Asset Manager at Railpen, said: “Securing RH Amar as the anchor occupier demonstrates the strategic importance of High Wycombe X. They are a long-term tenant of ours, and it’s great to continue this relationship with an occupier that understands our vision for this site. The success of this pre-let has enabled us to move forward confidently with the next phases, which will deliver much-needed, high-quality industrial facilities in the M40 corridor.
"The scale of the pre-let also validates our approach of delivering best-in-class, sustainable industrial spaces, with the ‘X’ portfolio bringing a new level of quality and consistency to the market.”
James Amar, RH Amar’s Strategy and CSR Director, added: “We have worked closely with Railpen to create a new headquarters that meets our operational needs, and while aligning with our sustainability goals, it supports our future growth plans, and keeps us in High Wycombe where we can support local economic growth and employment. We will be excited to call this new building our home as we celebrate 80 years in business.”
High Wycombe X represents another major step in Railpen’s commitment to delivering transformational and sustainable industrial developments that drive long-term value for occupiers and investors. Phase two of the redevelopment of High Wycombe X is currently in the design stage, as Railpen and Wrenbridge – its development consultant – engage with occupiers to determine the ideal size, number and configuration of the proposed buildings.