Part Income Producing Investment/Development Opportunity

181 Union Street & 4 Windmill Brae | Aberdeen | AB11 6BB

£850,000

subject to contract

EXCHANGED

Summary

  • Substantial City Centre building

  • Part income producing with lease to Coral Racing Limited

  • Large vacant retail unit

  • Upper floor offices capable of redevelopment for residential use, subject to planning

  • 18 secure car spaces

  • Grade B Listed building

  • Offers in excess of £850,000, subject to contract

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Location

Aberdeen is located approximately 180 km (125 miles) north of Edinburgh and 210 km (145 miles) north east of Glasgow. The city benefits from excellent road communications with the A90 and A96 offering direct links to Dundee and Inverness. In addition, the city is connected to the national rail network with direct services to London Kings Cross. Aberdeen International Airport is approximately 9.6 km (6 miles) north-west of the city centre and is used by around 3 million passengers a year for scheduled and charter holiday flights.

Aberdeen City & Shire is the third largest city region in Scotland and home to almost 0.5 million people of which 230,000 live in Aberdeen. Aberdeen is one of the world's top five energy cities and has been ranked as one of the UK's most competitive cities with innovative industries, excellent academic and research capabilities and a highly skilled workforce. Alongside continued investment in energy, life sciences, tourism and hospitability, food, drink and agriculture, digital and the creative sectors are industries
on the rise (Source: Aberdeen City Council).

The Aberdeen economy continues to bounce back from the effects of the recent downturn in the oil and gas industry. Latest evidence of an upturn comes from a new report revealing the Granite City has taken second place for growth across 45 of the country's largest cities.

Situation

The subjects are located within the heart of Union Street, adjacent to one of its principal junctions Union Terrace/Bridge Street. Aberdeen Bus and Rail Stations, Union Square and Trinity Shopping Centre are all within easy walking distance of the property.

Historically a retail dominant location, several new developments have been constructed providing a mixture of uses within Union Street including retail, licensed, office, residential and hotels. Other nearby occupiers include Travelodge, Chaophraya, Mercure Caledonian Hotel, PWC, and Barclays Bank.

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Description

The subjects comprise two ground floor retail units with self-contained office suites situated above, within a mid-terraced block fronting Union Street, with a large secure car park to the rear.

The front elevation of the three storey, basement and attic building, is Category ‘B’ listed, constructed from traditional granite leaf with the remaining elevations constructed from reconstituted granite concrete blockwork. The roof is of mansard design with a mixture of slate and felt covering, with the subjects benefitting from a combination of aluminium and UPVC framed double glazed windows throughout.

The retail accommodation, comprises two units, one of which is currently leased to Coral Racing Limited with the other unit vacant. The subjects benefit from glazed entrance doors with full width display windows and signage above. The units offer open plan retail space, with separate storage and toilet facilities to the rear.

The office accommodation is arranged over the first, second and third floors and is served by a main entrance from Union Street with security entry. An eight-person lift, again with security entry, provides access to all upper floors. The office suite on Windmill Brae has dedicated access from the street.

Access to the car park is from Windmill Brae and comprises a total of 18 single car spaces, along with plant and store areas.

The office accommodation provides a mixture of open plan and cellular offices throughout, with kitchen and toilet facilities. The self-contained office suite on Windmill Brae is open plan and has recently been refurbished to a high standard. The subjects benefit from suspended ceilings with recessed fluorescent light fittings, gas central heating, carpeted flooring and perimeter trunking in part.

Accommodation

We have been provided with the following Net Internal floor Areas (NIA):

RETAIL    
181A Union Street Sq. m Sq. ft
Ground 216.70 2,333
Basement 347.70 3,743
Sub Total 564.40 6,076
ITZA 149.02 1,604
     
181B Union Street    
Ground 125.40 1,350
ITZA 72.56 781

 

OFFICES    
181B Union Street Sq. m Sq. ft
1st Floor 381.84 4,121
2nd Floor 381.84 4,121
3rd Floor 370.24 3,996
4th Floor – Store 11.86 128
Basement – Store 41.41 447
Total 1,187.19 12,813
     
4 Windmill Brae    
Ground 118.59 1,280
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Tenure

Heritable (Scottish equivalent of English freehold)

Tenancy

The retail unit located at 181B Union Street, is currently leased to Coral Racing Limited, on an FRI lease until 28th February 2023. The current rent is £33,600 per annum equating to £43.02/sq ft.

The remainder of the accommodation is vacant.

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Covenant

Coral Racing Limited has reported the following trading figures;

  31st December 2017 31st December 2016
Turnover £598,371,000 £867,406,000
Pre-Tax Profit £   7,642,000 £  91,884,000
Shareholder’s Funds £237,512,000 £215,754,000

VAT

The property has been elected for VAT. It is anticipated that the sale will be treated as a Transfer of a Going Concern (TOGC).

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Proposal

We are instructed to seek offers in excess of £850,000 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand pounds), for the entire heritable interest.

Please note that a purchaser will be re-charged the costs of the searches which are provided in the data room.

Please note a purchaser will be charged a Transaction Fee of £5,000 plus VAT.

Investment Considerations

  1. Opportunity to acquire a substantial City Centre building;

  2. Redevelopment opportunity on upper floors and rear building, subject to planning;

  3. Low capital value of £39.50/sq ft;

  4. Secure income to Coral Racing Ltd.

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finance

Finance

We have partnered with a leading finance adviser to provide loan services. To learn more, please visit our “Finance” section.

Contact Us

Singer Vielle   +44 (0) 207 935 7200
Graham Waddell graham@singervielle.co.uk +44 (0) 141 221 4545
Douglas Wilson douglas@singervielle.co.uk +44 (0) 141 370 0284
Dale Henry dale@singervielle.co.uk +44 (0) 203 701 1356
Neil Singer neil@singervielle.co.uk  +44 (0) 203 478 9120

 

Vendors Solicitor

Harper MacLeod +44 (0) 141 227 9318
David Bell david.bell@harpermacleod.co.uk