Tungsten Properties and L&G have secured the first letting at AXIS 5, with family-owned supplement distributor Tropicana Wholesale agreeing a 10-year lease on the 44,899 sq ft (4,171 sq m) largest unit ahead of practical completion. The pre-let moves 50 staff from Minworth Industrial Estate in Sutton Coldfield to Lichfield South and adds warehousing and distribution capacity for the business.

Tungsten Properties is a privately owned industrial and warehouse developer founded in 2005 and based in Enderby, Leicester. L&G is the Legal & General Group, the London-listed UK financial services group, which reported core operating profit of £1,623 million for 2025.

Tropicana Wholesale, which trades as Tropicana Health & Fitness, was established in 1980 and stocks more than 200 brands.

AXIS 5 totals 8.8 acres and provides approximately 140,000 sq ft (13,042 sq m) of Grade A industrial and logistics space across five units. Practical completion of the whole scheme has now been reached, with units 3, 4 and 5 available from 13,306 sq ft to 31,416 sq ft and unit 1 under offer.

The structural driver is occupier demand for modern, sustainable industrial space in strategic locations. The scheme targets BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings and includes solar PV panels and EV charging infrastructure, and it sits two miles south of Lichfield city centre next to the A38 and A5 with links to the M6 Toll and M6.

David Mole, development director at Tungsten Properties, said, “Securing a pre-let on the largest unit at AXIS 5, Lichfield South prior to completion is a significant endorsement of both the quality of the development and the strength of occupier demand in the micro-location.”

Jon Ryan-Gill, director at Garrison Real Estate, which acted for Tungsten and L&G, said, “This letting demonstrates that businesses continue to seek modern, sustainable industrial space in strategic locations.”

Debbie Butlin, chief operations officer at Tropicana Wholesale, said, “The new facility will significantly increase our warehousing and distribution capacity, allowing us to hold a broader range and greater depth of stock, improving product availability for our customers while supporting increased volumes and future growth.”

The extra capacity will also support TropAutomate, Tropicana’s new automated vending replenishment service for gym chains.

For the sector, the pre-let shows logistics occupiers committing to new-build space in the Midlands ahead of completion.

Source: Greater Birmingham Chambers / BC Partners / Legal & General / Tropicana Wholesale