£3.5m speculative unit completes
A £3.5m speculative industrial unit in the Aire Valley has completed a week behind its original schedule despite over a months delay caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Building work began on Turner Developments’ Foundry Park project in January but activity was halted in April when the UK lockdown hit its peak.
The contractor, Bradford-based Stainforth Construction, was off site for the entire month before returning to work in May.
Despite this and following a concerted effort to make up lost ground, the 39,000 sqft unit on Chesham Street, Keighley, is ready for occupation and has seen a number of parties showing interest in the build.
James Turner of Ilkley-based Turner Developments said, “It is no small feat to have completed the build within a week of the deadline, given that we lost four weeks through lockdown.
“We have been impressed by Stainforth’s professionalism and the company’s commitment to get the project done.”
The development, built on the site of the former Harold Town campus of Keighley College, is currently available for sale or to let and can be split into two units and features a service yard extending to more than an acre.
Turner added, “Keighley, for all the challenges of the Coronavirus outbreak, remains a thriving centre for manufacturing in the UK and we believe Foundry Park adds to the local infrastructure and will tick lots of boxes for progressive companies.
“To have a brand new building with such a large service yard is pretty unique around here and it’s no surprise that we are fielding a lot of serious interest from local occupiers.
This is the latest development in the area for Turner Developments which has been active in Keighley for more than a decade. In 2014 it developed Aireside Business Park, a 260,000 sqft project, for seven occupiers and in 2017 completed a 370,000 sqft at Riverside Business Park for five occupiers.
The Foundry Park site was acquired from Bradford Council following the demolition of the campus in 2011, with Turner Developmesn having worked in partnership with the council to redevelop the site.
Cllr Ross Shaw, the Bradford Council executive member for regeneration, planning and transport said: “Keighley has long been a manufacturing powerhouse in the Bradford district and this is a further example of the Council and private sector working together to deliver regeneration of brownfield sites in the Aire Valley. We are delighted the property is now complete and look forward to welcoming a new occupier to Keighley’s Dalton Lane Business Development Zone.”
The architects on the development were Ilkley-based Horsley Townsend, and the joint agents are Hayfield Robinson and Atkinson Associates.
