Building Briefs: Biffa; Bilfinger GVA; Gordons; Chartford Homes; Britcon; Castle Owen
BIFFA, represented by Savills, has brought to market a freehold development site in Leeds allocated for employment uses.
The 4.7-acre plot on Gelderd Road is allocated for employment use both in the current Leeds Unitary Development Plan and the proposed Local Development Framework from Leeds City Council. Bordered by a rail line and sites occupied by Biffa and BOC, the land could accommodate a variety of unit configurations subject to planning, Savills said.
Access would be via a proposed new road crossing Biffa’s neighbouring site.
Dave Robinson, industrial director at Savills, said: “This is one of very few freehold employment sites in Leeds and we are therefore expecting high levels of interest from both occupiers and developers.”
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FOLLOWING a recent refurbishment by the landlord Royal London Asset Management (RLAM), Bilfinger GVA has let a 36,462sq ft unit at Stourton Link.
Troy Foods, a manufacturer of wholesale foods, has taken the unit for use as a warehouse facility, to complement its existing operations in the Leeds area.
Rob Oliver, industrial director at Bilfinger GVA, said: “This unit was a rare opportunity for an occupier to secure a 36,462sq ft modern high specification second-hand unit.
“As such, we knew it would not be on the market for long. We are pleased to welcome Troy Foods, a respected local occupier, who have taken a new five year lease on the unit.”
James Orr, fund manager at Royal London, said: “We are delighted to attract Troy Foods to our Stourton Link Estate, which is very well located in Leeds with excellent access to the local motorway network.
“Following the departure of the previous tenant, we undertook various works to ensure the unit was ready for immediate occupation, and as a result had several interested parties. We have just completed a refurbishment of Unit 3 next door, which is 52,000sq ft and expect this to let soon too.”
Bilfinger GVA acted for the landlord, David Smith of DJS Surveyors acted for Troy Foods.
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LAW firm Gordons has advised Ilkley-based property developer Opus North on the sale of Armley Retail Park in a combined transaction worth £8m.
Discount retail giant Lidl has purchased the leasehold on a new 20,000 sq ft superstore at the park, whilst the rest of the site has been sold to the Palmer Capital Income Fund, with tenants B&M Home Store and Farmfoods all taking 15-year leases.
A Gordons team led by commercial property solicitor Kate Johnson acted on behalf of Opus North on the acquisition, letting and forward funding deal for the site with Palmer Capital Income Fund. Gordons also handled the site assembly with two landowners and the exchanging of agreements for lease with new occupiers.
The redevelopment of the derelict Denso Marston factory site on Armley Road, Leeds was granted planning permission last year. Construction of the retail park will create more than 100 jobs and works are expected to be complete by March 2017.
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BUILDING and civil engineering company Britcon has completed a £4.2m building at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Sheffield for the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
The major design and build project awarded to Britcon last year comprises five split level workshops plus dedicated office space.
Working alongside AHR Architects and WYG Engineers, Britcon delivered the 32,291sq ft facility to provide grow on space for advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses, complementing the AMP Technology Centre.
Agents Creative Space Management says it has seen strong demand for the building which was 50% pre-let.
The AMP supports businesses that provide world-class technology solutions for use in precision industries including aerospace, defence, construction, automotive, sport and others. The 100-acre development is a joint venture between public and private sector organisations to create an internationally recognised centre for engineering, innovation, research and manufacturing excellence.
At its hub, the AMP has some of the world’s leading materials and manufacturing technologies organisations: The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC), Rolls-Royce, Castings Technology International (CTi), TWI Technology Centre (Yorkshire) and the Nuclear AMRC.
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BUILDING work has started on a new £8m luxury homes scheme in Menston.
YORKSHIRE housebuilder Chartford Homes is building 12 four, five and six-bedroom detached homes on land at Bingley Road, at its junction with upper Cleasby Road.
Construction work on the two-acre greenfield site, allocated as building land by Bradford Council, which subsequently approved the planning application, is expected to take 18 months with the first homes completed by the end of 2016.
Chartford Homes acquired the site, close to Menston town centre, from a consortium of three private owners.
Chartford Homes managing director, Chris Thompson, says: “We are very pleased to be starting on site with our first scheme in Menston which will provide high-quality luxury family homes for the local community.
“As well as being close to Menston town centre, the scheme will have easy access to Ilkley, Bradford and Leeds as well as being only a short distance from Leeds Bradford International Airport.”
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BOND Bryan Building Surveying has rebranded as Castle Owen.
Castle Owen will continue to provide bespoke construction and property consultancy services to clients in and around Yorkshire, Humberside, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire from its newly refurbished office at Sheffield’s Hillsborough Barracks.
In its 15 year history, the Castle Owen team has worked on projects for clients including The University of Sheffield, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Hallam University, The University of Nottingham, and North East Derbyshire District Council, in addition to a variety of national blue chip organisations including AVIVA, RAC, HSBC and Handelsbanken.
Tim Castle, managing director and co-founder of the brand, along with Richard Owen, said: “We have built an enviable reputation for technical excellence, pragmatic advice, project delivery and client care.
“Now is the right time to define ourselves as Castle Owen. We will continue to provide our clients with an exceptional level of service.”
