Entrepreneurs graduate from Harvard to launch property investment company

TWO entrepreneurs, John and Michael McDonnell, have launched Illuminating Investments, a property investment firm.

John McDonnell, who founded Harvard Engineering, stepped down from his role there in July, along with brother Michael, who was a director at the firm for more than 20 years.

The McDonnell brothers’ first development is at Photon Park in Normanton near Wakefield, comprising of two commercial buildings.

The first building has 30,350 sq ft of open plan office space over two floors, with the second made up of 47,500 sq ft of manufacturing and/or warehousing space with 6,500 sq ft of office accommodation on the first floor. There is also potential for a unit up to 44,000 sq ft to be developed.

Normanton is widely regarded as one of the major manufacturing and distribution hubs in the North of England. Occupiers include HSBC, Asda, Royal Mail, Boots and Bosch.

John McDonnell commented, “We are really excited about Photon Park and were very pleased with the reaction from agents at the launch event.

“Whilst this is our first development, we are also looking at projects in Wakefield and Huddersfield and are on the look out for more.”