Hat-trick of deals at Wakefeld development site

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

Three new flourishing Yorkshire companies are moving into Flanshaw Way, close to Junction 40 of the M1, which is owned by leading Yorkshire property company Frank Marshall Estates.

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

The three companies are engineering parts distributer LJB, car parts distributer Valour Automotive and high-end surface finishers and plasterers Stucco & Stucco.

Together the three companies have taken 7,300 sq ft of quality industrial and office space.

Visiting the development this week, Edward Marshall, director of Frank Marshall Estates, said that the three deals were “a resounding endorsement of what Flanshaw Way has to offer.”

“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 that there is a massive pent-up demand in West Yorkshire for high-quality buildings of 10,000 sq ft and under in great locations. We are proud to be the leading developer in the region for this specific market,” said Mr Marshall.

He added: “We are also delighted to welcome these three new successful companies to our estate. We favour quality local businesses as tenants, as we enjoy dealing with people who love their business as much as we love ours”.

Flanshaw Way is being developed in two phases: The first comprises 49,200 sq ft of quality industrial and office space, including a seven-unit Nano Park; and the second phase, with plans currently under consideration, which could facilitate a further 30,000 sq ft in either a single building or more small units. Currently small units are favoured as the demand for them in the first phase has been so strong.

The first phase of the development of the 37,300 sq ft Flanshaw Business Park and the 11,900 sq ft Flanshaw Nano Park will be completed in June this year.

“There are only three units remaining now at the Business Park, including Unit 10, which comprises 9,500 sq ft of industrial and office space, with a high-quality fit out and road prominence.

“Overall, this is a tremendously exciting project, which will bring much-needed employment and business space to the Wakefield area,” said Mr Marshall.

The main contractors are Bradford-based Percy Pickard.

Andy Robinson, the owner and managing director of Stucco & Stucco, who were previously based at nearby Horbury, explained: “We have been looking for suitable new premises for our expanding business for some time now. But there was nothing really suitable in the Wakefield area, until we heard about Flanshaw Way.

“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.”

Edward Marshall continued: “Wakefield is a logistics and distribution hotspot, thanks to its superb position at the centre of Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network. 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. We have a proven record of developing successful business parks and Nano Parks in West Yorkshire and this gives us the confidence and the belief that we can attract quality occupiers to this site.

“We aim our parks at the quality local businesses needing a property to match their business and to which they are proud to bring their customers. We also aim to bring companies from other areas into Wakefield.”

He explained that potential occupiers of Flanshaw Business Park would be trade counter operators; e-tailers; light industrial and storage specialists; and manufacturers and distributors.

“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’ successful Nano Parks elsewhere in West Yorkshire, which feature small hybrid units, with warehousing space below and offices above.

Jimmy Marshall of Frank Marshall Estates commented: “We believe that there is a real need for units of this size in Wakefield. 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 commented: “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.