Construction starts at business park
CONSTRUCTION of the first three units at the new £15m Baildon Business Park has begun.
Developer Pendle Russells – a joint venture between Manchester-based Russells Construction and Lancashire’s Pendle Projects – is building a 28,000 sq ft facility for precision-engineering firm Produmax, a 15,000 sq ft unit for surgical equipment manufacturer Anetic Aid, and a 14,000 sq ft unit on a speculative basis.
The site has been brought forward by the Airedale Partnership and Bradford Council, in keeping with the Airedale Masterplan.
Construction of the new access road and the first three units is expected to be complete in early 2015.
Completion will allow Produmax to move production from premises in Otley and Yeadon to one site, bringing 44 jobs to Baildon. It forms the start of the firm’s ten-year expansion plan, part-funded by £600,000 from the Regional Growth Fund, which will see more products developed and a doubling of the workforce.
Anetic Aid, part of the Portsmouth Surgical Holdings Group, is relocating its maintenance, sales and distribution teams from its existing home in Guiseley, creating 26 jobs. The new facility will also allow the firm to grow its servicing engineering department and anticipates increasing staff numbers to 40 within the next few years.
Developer Mark Taylforth said: “The start of construction for the first phase of Baildon Business Park is a major milestone. Having two units pre-sold was the ideal scenario and I’m pleased we’re kicking off construction with both Produmax and Anetic Aid on board. Negotiations are underway with other potential tenants and, once confirmed, we’ll get to work on detailed designs and planning applications for the remaining 90,000 sq ft the site has to offer.”
Jeremy Ridyard, managing director of Produmax, said: “The foresight and assistance of the team at Bradford council has helped to deliver an excellent prospect in the Baildon Business Park. Produmax is in a period of rapid growth supplying to the global aerospace industry, assisted by the UK Sharing In Growth program, and we are looking forward to moving into the purpose built factory early in 2015.”
Andrew Curtin, Anetic Aid director, added: “This is a great move for us to a brand new unit, in which we have been able to specifiy our design requirements, and the staff can’t wait to move into the new facility.”
Baildon Business Park offers a total 140,000 sq ft of business space, with 11,500 sq ft of restaurant / retail available on the road frontage. The site has outline planning for B1, B2 and ancillary B8 units up to 60,000 sq ft, and agents are in discussion with a number of potential occupiers, with three having progressed to legal negotiations.
