Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Aerospace

AIPUT makes strategic Gatwick acquisition

AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) has acquired Tesla’s Crawley base next to Gatwick Airport, its second strategic Gatwick acquisition in three months.

Image courtesy abrdn 

The 1.1 acre, 17,000 sq ft site, located in the heart of Crawley, close to Gatwick Airport and the A23, has 14 years remaining on the lease.  

The Crawley base, one of only eight Tesla locations serving London and the South-East, hosts a high-tech maintenance service facility, 8x supercharging points (available 24/7) together with an exciting showroom experience.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

A new substation installed on site delivers above industry standard power provision to the facility and added operational resilience to this business-critical base for Tesla. Tesla’s Crawley facility is well-placed to benefit from the accelerating growth in electric vehicle use across the South-East.  

The town – a recent bidder for city status - is set to see significant growth in future years, with the draft Local Plan envisaging 12,000 new homes and 20,500 new jobs by 2037.    

Nick Smith, Fund Manager for AIPUT, commented: “This new addition to AIPUT’s Gatwick industrial portfolio sits in precise alignment with our strategy to diversify our portfolio, investing in market leading businesses that actively promote new technology, positive mobility and the critical decarbonisation of transport and logistics within the ecosystems of London’s primary airports.”

AIPUT’s Tesla transaction comes hot on the heels of the fund’s acquisition of the nearby Fleming Business Centre in October 2021. This established multi-let estate of seven units has a combined Gross Internal Area (GIA) of 95,000 sq ft.  AIPUT’s existing Gatwick customer base includes Gate Gourmet at Viking House and World Duty Free at Gatwick Gate. Prime industrial rents in Crawley are moving close to the £16psf mark.

These latest acquisitions elevate AIPUT into the Top 5 leading owners of industrial real estate assets in and around Gatwick Airport, representing nearly 300,000 sq ft of space and upwards of £100m by value.    

Gatwick Airport is in the midst of a consultation on its proposal for full utilisation of the second runway, which is expected to further accelerate economic and industrial sector activity in the wider Crawley area, offering greater global connectivity and a projected increase in capacity from 46.6m passengers using the airport in 2019 to 74m by 2029 – an increase of almost 60%.  

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT

AIPUT was represented by Kimmre and Eversheds Sutherland, with JM&CO acing for the vendor.

Abrdn’s’ Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust (AIPUT) is an award-winning expert long-term investor specialising in industrial property at and within major UK airport ecosystems.

 

 

Advertisement
Cranfield University
Flights increase as summer hots up

Aerospace

Flights increase as summer hots up

18 July 2025

UK air traffic in June increased by 2.5% on the same month last year as NATS, the UK’s major provider of air traffic services, safely handled 237,215 flights, up more than 2,600 on May.

ZeroAvia granted patents for hydrogen-electric engine development

Aerospace

ZeroAvia granted patents for hydrogen-electric engine development

17 July 2025

ZeroAvia today announced it has been awarded nine new patents this year so far, with many critical to the company’s roadmap for scaling hydrogen-electric engines for large regional aircraft.

BBGA co-hosts Isle of Man Aviation Conference

Aerospace

BBGA co-hosts Isle of Man Aviation Conference

17 July 2025

For the first time, the British Business General Aviation Association (BBGA) joined Martyn Fiddler as joint hosts of the 13th Isle of Man Aviation Conference, bringing together 120 business aviation delegates at Douglas’ Villa Marina venue.

Flying to become more accessible for disabled people

Aerospace

Flying to become more accessible for disabled people

16 July 2025

An industry and consumer expert group, tasked by the UK Government to advise on how to make flying more accessible for disabled people, has unveiled its suite of recommendations today.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025
Doncasters expands Groton site with new shell line

Aerospace

Doncasters expands Groton site with new shell line

15 July 2025

Doncasters today announced the successful commissioning of a brand-new, fully automated shell line, at its Groton facility in the US - a major milestone within its 2025 Performance Improvement Plan and a key advancement in the company’s long-term manufacturing strategy.

ZeroAvia and Horizon Aircraft to explore hydrogen eVTOL propulsion

Aerospace

ZeroAvia and Horizon Aircraft to explore hydrogen eVTOL propulsion

15 July 2025

ZeroAvia and Horizon Aircraft today announced plans to work together on developing regional hydrogen-electric VTOL air travel.

Advertisement
Teledyne