Barnfield claims two-thirds of North West spec build

NELSON-based property developer and contractor Barnfield Construction has said that it is currently responsible for two-thirds of the region’s current speculative development.

The firm said that a report produced by agents Jones Lang LaSalle for a recent breakfast briefing identified 1m sq ft of commercial development across the UK, and in the North West it is working on two of the three active schemes.

It is developing a mixed-use site at Crown Business Park in Rochdale and warehouse units at Estuary Commerce Park at Speke, south Liverpool.

Both projects are being delivered through a 50:50 partnership with Capital & Centric Properties and have benefited from £5.7m worth of grants from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The firm has said it is anticipated that the Rochdale scheme will attract 350 jobs in Rochdale and the Speke scheme between 250 and 300 jobs.

Barnfield is also planning to start on site with four speculative projects next year, including the flagship Weavers Triangle regeneration project in Burnley and an extension of the Empire Business Park.

Chairman & managing director Tim Webber said: “We’re extremely pleased to be in a position where we can effectively diversify our order book whereby we undertake work for clients, our joint venture companies and ourselves in order to try and carry on as normal in these tough economic conditions.”