Offices created at former war time munitions factory

PART of a former Royal Ordnance factory is being transformed into small business office suites after the completion of the latest phase of refurbishment.

Eight new office suites have been created at Thorp Arch Estate, near Wetherby, a former Royal Ordnance factory dating back to the 1940s.

The £800,000, six-month refurbishment of Unit 651, which was most recently used for the manufacture of metal roof sheets, has created the suites, which total 6,750 sq ft, in a contract carried out by Harrogate-based Most Construction.

The development was project managed by chartered surveyors, the LHL Group, York.

The refurbished unit, which has individual offices ranging from 600 sq ft to 1,100 sq ft with allocated car parking, has two entrances, each serving four self-contained suites off each hallway with their own separate washrooms.

An high energy performance asset rating has been achieved through high-level insulation and economic use of power.

Wharfedale Property Management, which is based on the estate which it manages for owner Rockspring Hanover Property Unit Trust, of London, is offering flexible leases on the new suites with tenants having the option to terminate after their first year.

Tim Munns, director of Wharfedale Property Management, said: “Thorp Arch Estate has always been a popular location for small and expanding firms and tends to do well in a tough economic climate because of our attractive location and flexible approach to meeting our tenants’ needs.

“Until now we have been able to offer mainly manufacturing and distribution units but there has always been a demand for pure office use and this is the first time that we have been able to offer high-quality small office suites with plentiful parking on flexible leases.”

Thorp Arch Estate, which is set in 385-acres of parkland, is the base for a diverse range of about 150 businesses, from SMEs to large Plcs, with a total of more than 2,500 staff.