Dutch robotics specialist picks M42 business park for HQ

A hi-tech company from Holland has set up an HQ for its UK and Ireland operations at Quartz Point business park on the M42 corridor.

Lely Atlantic, which specialises in automated and robotic systems for housing, feeding and milking dairy cattle, is also opening a showroom on the site to display its equipment to potential customers.

The company has signed for a 10-year lease on its 6,200 sq ft unit after moving from serviced offices at another West Midlands location.

Birmingham-based KWB handled the transaction on behalf of the park’s owner, Colmore Capital, and the former’s head of office agency, Malcolm Jones, says it represents a coup for the region.

“They’re an international and very successful brand working in advanced technology and robotics, and could have chosen to base their new HQ and showroom anywhere,” he said.

“Since Lely was founded in 1948, they’ve been helping farmers improve their productivity and their profits by devising innovative technologies to automate farm processes, which are developed and manufactured at their global HQ in the Netherlands.

“Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do, and they’re an enterprise which would be welcomed anywhere, so it is very pleasing that we helped persuade them to come to the M42 corridor.

“They employ just over 100 staff across their franchise network in the UK and Ireland, and needed to move from serviced offices and create their own HQ, as a focal point for their employees and their customers.”

Colmore Capital’s investment analyst Guy Revell, said: “Self-contained offices are very much in demand, and the park is a very attractive and private crescent with an excellent location on the M42, and very close to the airport, the West Coast Main Line and the M6.

“Our view, supported by Malcolm’s market data and analysis, was that the 5,000 sq ft to 7,000 sq ft niche wasn’t being well-served in the region, and so investing in the units would be worthwhile.

“When we heard Lely had a requirement for around 6,000 sq ft, they sounded an ideal occupier, and as soon as their cluster manager, Sherwin Moazami, saw the location, we were very optimistic that they’d sign.

“We’re based in Birmingham, so as Malcolm says, it’s great to see a footloose international company decide that this region is where it wants to be.”