First tenant moves into speculative Bradford industrial estate

DEVELOPER Frank Marshall Estates has signed up its first tenant following the acquisition and construction of its Bradford business park.

Frank Marshall Estates acquired the park in 2015 and it is undertaking what it says is the first speculative industrial development to be built in Bradford since the recession.

The developers acquired the 217,800 sq ft business park, which is part of the Prologis Park for an undisclosed sum.

Planning for 38,000 sq ft spread across eight units was granted by Bradford City Council, and construction company Percy Pickard was contracted to build.

Now Wilkies Floors, part of the MCD Group, have signed up for 3,250 sq ft at the site.

The rents for the industrial units will be in the region of £7.50 per sq ft, while office rent is £15 per sq ft.

Paul Waterhouse, partner with Wilkies, who specialise in carpet fitting and floor covering, commented: “This is our first venture into a satellite branch away from our head office in Morley. We looked at various sites in the Bradford area before we came across Newhall and that changed everything for us.

“The location and quality of the units at Newhall made our decision easy and has given us a feelgood factor for increased sales as we move forward into 2017. Everyone involved at the site has been great, which has been a major factor during this process.

“We hope that Frank Marshall Estates are well on the way to filling the site with new businesses and that we all work together to make it a success,” said Mr Waterhouse.

Edward Marshall who runs Frank Marshall Estates with his brother Jimmy Marshall said: “We are tremendously excited at securing our first deal at Newhall Business Park, which rewards our faith in developing it speculatively.

“Newhall occupies an exceptional position at the top of the M606 to the south of Bradford city centre and is just minutes away from the hub of Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network. The location is superb, arguably the best for industrial property in Bradford.”

Frank Marshall Estates themselves are moving their headquarters to the site from the nearby Link 606 Office Park next spring, occupying the 17th century grade II-listed building which fronts Rooley Lane and was formerly the clubhouse of West Bowling Golf Club.

Jonathan O’Connor, associate with joint marketing agents Walker Singleton, commented: “This first letting is significant as Newhall is the first speculative build of this type in Bradford for over seven years.

“Newhall has only just been completed and over half the floor area is now under offer, setting new headline rents for the city and clearly showing the pent up demand for top-quality accommodation in a prime location,” he added.

Mike Haigh, partner with joint marketing agents Dove Haigh Phillips, commented: “This is a prime development site in a premier location. Marks and Spencer’s hugely successful regional distribution centre is next door, underlining the excellent transport links and the success of the site.”

The Bradford office of Eddisons are also marketing Newhall Business Park, while Simon Mydlowski of Gordons is providing legal advice.