Historic Thames wharf sold as investors target scarce London industrial land

BTG Eddisons has completed the disposal of the 6.6-acre De Pass Wharf, River Road, Barking, an official Port of London Authority-protected wharf site that was marketed for £19m. Ben Collins, head of commercial agency at Kemsley Property Consultants, acquired the site on behalf of the purchaser.

Occupying a prominent position on the north bank of the River Thames at Creekmouth, the site currently operates as an industrial storage yard. It benefits from protected wharf status and incorporates two wharf gates, offering long-term strategic potential in a market where industrial land opportunities of this scale are increasingly difficult to source.

The wharf's origins date back to 1878 when it formed part of a Victorian fertiliser and chemical works established by the De Pass family. While the surrounding industrial landscape has evolved significantly over the past century, the site has retained the De Pass name and remains an important part of the Thames-side industrial corridor.

Henry Pauncefort-Duncombe, head of strategic land at BTG Eddisons, said: "Opportunities to acquire industrial land of this scale within Greater London are becoming increasingly rare. Demand remains strong from a broad spectrum of investors, developers and occupiers who recognise the long-term strategic importance of sites capable of supporting industrial and logistics uses.

"De Pass Wharf attracted considerable interest because it combines scale, a Thames-side location and significant future potential. As industrial land supply continues to tighten across London, we expect competition for similar opportunities to remain intense."

Paul Quy, head of industrial and logistics at BTG Eddisons, said: "This transaction underlines the continued strength of the market for industrial and logistics land in key London locations. The purchaser has secured a substantial site in an established industrial area with excellent road connectivity and a unique position on the River Thames.

"Sites offering this combination rarely come to market, and the level of interest generated during the marketing process reflects the confidence investors continue to have in London's industrial sector."

De Pass Wharf occupies a strategic location on River Road, accessed via the A13 and within easy reach of both the North Circular and the M25. Barking Riverside Station, on the Suffragette line, is located nearby, providing connections to Barking station and the wider London transport network.

The site is currently arranged across a number of levels, with the majority comprising made ground, and offers a range of future industrial, logistics and storage possibilities, subject to the necessary consents.