Second phase of Wakefield employment park completed

Balme Business Park, the second phase of the successful Flanshaw Way development in Wakefield, has been completed.

The business park, which has been masterminded by West Yorkshire’s number one multi-let developer, Frank Marshall Estates of Bradford, comprises 26,000 sq ft of brand-new, high-quality units ranging in size from 1,500 sq ft to 6,000 sq ft.

Five of the nine units have already been let in a flurry of deals.

The lettings are: Units 1 and 2 to the Clearway Group; Unit 3 to Industrial Electronic Repairs; Unit 8 to Safe Strip UK; and Unit 9 to Arentis Ltd.

Edward Marshall, director of Frank Marshall Estates, commented: “We are extremely proud of the magnificent success of the two phases of our speculative development at Flanshaw Way.

“The four units remaining at Balme range from 2,600 sq ft. to 6,000 sq ft. One is currently under offer, and there is encouraging interest in the other three, so would-be occupiers need to act swiftly to snap them up.”

Frank Marshall Estates bought the four-acre site, on the outskirts of Wakefield by Junction 40 of the M1, from Flanshaw Property Ltd for £1.3 million in 2020.

The first phase of the development featured 17 units, including seven hybrid Nano units and 10 light industrial and warehouse units ranging up to 9,500 sq ft, and was fully let within a year.

Edward Marshall explained: “When we bought this land, we promised to create the best business park that Wakefield has ever had. We have now delivered on that promise, despite the lingering challenges posed by the global pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding Yorkshire’s commercial property market.

“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 pleased to be the leading developer in the region for this specific market.

“We favour quality local businesses as tenants, as we enjoy dealing with people who love their business as much as we love ours. Our great relationships with all the occupiers of Flanshaw Way proves this point.

“Wakefield is a logistics and distribution hotspot, thanks to its superb position at the centre of Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network. The park, now it is fully developed out, will create and maintain 200 new and sustainable jobs, providing a substantial boost to the area’s economy.

“This is a development of which Wakefield is justifiably proud. The city is a well-established commercial centre with a large, skilled labour force. The majority of occupiers are quality local businesses who needed properties to match their expanding businesses. But we are also bringing companies from other areas into Wakefield.”

Max Vause of Leeds-based property consultants Carter Towler, who are advising Frank Marshall Estates, commented: “The recent letting completions prior to practical completion proves the success of the brand-new Balme Business Park.

“As always it has been a pleasure working with Frank Marshall Estates to bring this outstanding development to market. The success we’ve had so far brilliantly demonstrates the quality of the park. The state-of-the-art units offer a base for both local and national businesses and I am confident that the park will be 100 per cent occupied very soon.

“It’s been tremendous to work with a developer as passionate and professional as Edward Marshall and I’m very proud of what we have achieved together. It has also been great to work with Edward’s solicitor Simon Mydlowski of Clarion.”

Avison Young, represented by Rob Oliver, are the other joint marketing agents for Balme Business Park, together with Jonathan O’Connor of Ryden.