Building Briefs: Sanderson Weatherall; Hollicarrs Holiday Park; R&W Lettings and Property Management; DONG Energy

LEEDS-based chartered surveyor and property consultancy Sanderson Weatherall has completed the first phase of refurbishment works to one of Derby’s largest business parks in a £3m project.

Owned by London and Continental Railways (LCR), the RTC Business Park is home to a range of office and industrial accommodation. It is one of the major employment sites in Derby with a work force of more than 1100. The upgrade is part of a wider £6m modernisation project at the park which is being jointly funded through Derby City Council’s Regional Growth Fund programme and investment from LCR.

Sanderson Weatherall’s building consultancy team are responsible for all design, planning, contract administration and quantity surveying services. The scope of work has so far covered over 4,500 sq m of space and included the fit out of large open plan office spaces and tenants’ fit-out works. Communal areas were also upgraded with the refurbishment of reception areas, lifts and staff facilities.

RTC Business Park offers 430,000 sq ft of accommodation located over 28 acres of landscaped grounds.  The park comprises a mix of low-rise office and laboratory buildings together with a number of rail connected industrial units.  

The refurbishment project has so far involved three of the park’s existing buildings, Derwent House, Kelvin House and Trent House. The project also enlisted the services of Sanderson Weatherall’s corporate real estate, property management and landlord and tenant teams who together provided comprehensive property advice and consultation.

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R&W Lettings and Property Management is celebrating a successful first year for its Leeds office with the recent letting of the penthouse apartment at Bridgewater Place in the city centre, within a week of it being on the market.

R&W Lettings and Property Management, which specialises in letting and managing properties across Yorkshire, secured a 12-month lease for the apartment.

The two-bedroom apartment on the 30th floor of the landmark building known as the Dalek, covers around 850 sq ft and has underground parking and a concierge service.

Established in Harrogate six years ago by directors Simon Roberts and Guy Wigginton when the pair spotted a gap in the market for a professional lettings agent, they opened the Leeds office at Broad Gate on The Headrow in May last year. During their first year of business in Leeds they have doubled the number of properties they manage in the city, ranging from single flats to houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) and apartment blocks.

Guy Wigginton, director of R&W Lettings and Property Management, explained: “Opening the Leeds office was a natural progression for us, not only because of the rising popularity of city-centre living but also the increasing confidence in Leeds generally. It’s an exciting time with retail developments like Victoria Gate and new financial and legal businesses being attracted by the city’s vibrant lifestyle, strong education facilities and lower rents compared with the South.”

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THE Hollicarrs Holiday Park at Escrick, near York has enjoyed its most successful year since it opened 11 years ago.

Eighteen quality lodges were sold last year at Hollicarrs, breaking all previous records.

Set in 25 acres of woodland in the grounds of the historic Escrick Park Estate, Hollicarrs Holiday Park features more than a 100 bespoke lodges and holiday homes. It has a range of activities including fishing, horse riding, bowling and tennis, while cycle trails run through the estate.

Dawn Buck, park manager, said: “It gives us tremendous pleasure to report on a record-breaking year, underling the increasing popularity of Hollicarrs’s lodges, environment and location.”

The holiday park is the brainchild of Charlie Forbes-Adam, who manages the Escrick Park estate.

He said: “In everything we do, the environment is of paramount importance and the care and attention put into the planning stage of Hollicarrs was carried through to produce what is seen today. Great care has been taken so as not to disturb the eco-balance existing here.”

This work was recognised when the park was awarded the David Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation and the 5 Stars VisitBritain Award within the first year of opening in 2006.

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DONG Energy is starting consultation as part of the planning process for the Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm, which if built out to full capacity would be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, capable of powering over two million UK homes.

Hornsea Project Three is located around 120km from the Yorkshire coast.
The Hornsea zone has been split into four areas allocated for offshore wind farm development.

DONG Energy recently announced that it has taken a final investment decision to build the 1.2 GW Hornsea Project One, which will be capable of powering more than one million UK homes. Hornsea Project One will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm when it becomes operational, which is expected to be in 2020.

Hornsea Project Two has recently finished the examination phase of the application for a consent, and awaits a decision from the Secretary of State in June.

Brent Cheshire, DONG Energy UK’s country chairman, said: “Hornsea Project Three is a huge infrastructure project which, if built out to full capacity, would be the world’s largest offshore wind farm and potentially twice the size of Hornsea Project One.

“Moving forward with consultation for Hornsea Project Three really underlines our commitment to the UK offshore wind industry. We have already invested around £5bn in the UK on offshore wind and we have a number of important future projects under construction and in our pipeline.”

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A PROPERTY company specialising in the fast sale of homes where owners need a quick disposal has been launched in North Yorkshire.

Sell My House Fast, Selby aims to help homeowners who need a quick exit due to financial or personal pressures.

Managing director David Pickup said: “A series of factors lead to people needing to sell their homes quickly. One in three house sales fall through and people often cannot afford to keep properties when they have to pay council tax or face other mounting costs. Inexperienced landlords who have had their property trashed often decided to get out fast, especially if they also face negative equity.

“Where people face repossession, the bank arranges disposal of their property and homes can be sold leaving people still owing money. We help people take control by buying properties for cash fast.

“The price we offer is often below the market value but with no other fees and a guaranteed sale so, as a way to resolve a stressful situation, it is an attractive alternative. We pay all the seller’s professional fees so they know from the start what money they will have from the sale.”