Three businesses sign up for space at employment site

A hat-trick of deals has been completed at an employment park on the outskirts of Wakefield.

Three companies are moving into Flanshaw Way, which is owned by property company Frank Marshall Estates.

The Bradford-based developer bought the four-acre site from Flanshaw Property Ltd for £1.3m last year.

The three companies are engineering parts distributer LJB, car parts distributer Valour Automotive and surface finishers and plasterers Stucco & Stucco. Together they have taken 7,300 sq ft of industrial and office space.

Edward Marshall, director of Frank Marshall Estates, said: “When we bought this land, we promised to create the best business park that Wakefield has ever had. We are now delivering on that promise.

“Apart from these three completed deals, we have another six units under offer, which is remarkable, given the challenges the Yorkshire commercial property sector faces with Covid-19.

“It is clear there is a massive pent-up demand in West Yorkshire for high-quality buildings of 10,000 sq ft and under in great locations.”

Flanshaw Way is being developed in two phases: The first comprises 49,200 sq ft of industrial and office space, including a seven-unit Nano Park; and the second phase, with plans currently under consideration, could facilitate a further 30,000 sq ft in either a single building or more small units.

The main contractors are Bradford-based Percy Pickard.

Andy Robinson, owner and managing director of Stucco & Stucco, said: “The quality of the build, the secure and easily accessible location and the potential to create our own bespoke mezzanine interior were all just ideal for us.

“We couldn’t have asked for more. Apart from our main importing business, we also run a Surface Design Training Academy and our superb new premises with a showroom are just perfect for this. We can’t wait to move in.”

Marshall continued: “We estimate that the park, once it is fully developed out, will maintain 200 new and sustainable jobs, providing a substantial boost to the area’s economy.

“This is going to be a development of which Wakefield will be really proud. The city is a well-established commercial centre with a large, skilled labour force.

“The economics of retail are changing swiftly, not least because of the rapid growth of internet shopping as a result of Covid-19. This has stimulated the demand for e-tail and storage/distribution units in prime locations. Flanshaw fits the bill perfectly.”

Meanwhile, the seven unit Nano Park would follow in the footsteps of Frank Marshall Estates’ Nano Parks elsewhere in West Yorkshire, which feature small hybrid units, with warehousing space below and offices above.

Jimmy Marshall, of Frank Marshall Estates, said: “We are in the age of the entrepreneur with more and more small and start-up companies looking for self-contained space of their own.

“We are intending to provide flexible, affordable and attractive business premises to help companies of this type to grow and prosper.”

Rob Oliver, of joint marketing agents Avison Young, added: “We are delighted that this development has been so well received by the local occupational market and are proud of our role in securing deals here.”

The joint agents on the scheme are the Leeds office of Carter Towler and Jonathan O’Connor of Walker Singleton.