Getting to Know Tim Knapp, Knapp Property Group
As one of LFRA’s newest Associate Members, can you tell us a bit about yourself and Knapp Property Group?
Knapp Property Group was established in 1976 by Managing Director, John Knapp. We sell, lease and manage property throughout New South Wales and Queensland.
I have a Master of Commerce in Property Investment and Development and have been in the property industry for 18 years working with JLL, Knight Frank, private investors and Knapp Property Group.
Which Large Format Retail sites do you lease, sell or manage?
Knapp Property Group currently look after 35 centres across New South Wales and Queensland and specialise in NSW’s Macarthur region.
We manage sites along Blaxland Road, the heart of the Campbelltown industrial and Large Format Retail precinct. Recently we sold Blaxland Home Centre, which we have managed since 2001 to a private investor for $47.5 million.
We also lease Home Centre Gregory Hills, which is located in one of the fastest growing suburbs in Australia.
How important is local knowledge and networks and what role does it play at Knapp Property Group?
Local knowledge and networking are imperative.
To make a centre operate to its full potential you need to understand the needs of tenants and how owners can enhance the centre to benefit them. Once you understand this you can then cater to the local demographic to promote tenants and their product.
The LFRA is a perfect example of effective networking. The multiple events held each year allow us to interact with Large Format Retailers and listen to their concerns and success stories. This is why be became a member of the LFRA.
How has Macarthur changed over time and what are the opportunities for Large Format Retail?
Macarthur has come a long way.
Once a dairy farm, Blaxland Road has since then been rezoned to allow Large Format Retailing. It is now a high-profile location which carries about 48,000 vehicles per day. This equates to annual passing traffic of about 17.5 million vehicles. The total trade area population is currently estimated at 405,460 and is projected to increase to 569,370 persons by 2031.
Considering this growth, there will definitely be a demand for products offered by Large Format Retailers in the near future.
