Despite a return of confidence to the West Yorkshire commercial property market, a single industrial unit will be the area’s only new facility available for immediate occupation when it is completed this summer.
Two new buildings are currently under construction at Wakefield’s Link 62 business hub. Elland-based Commercial Development Projects, the development arm of the Marshall Group, is building a 112,000sq ft food processing facility for a regional business. The new premises will not only safeguard 160 existing jobs, but allow the company to recruit 50 new workers.
A second building — also supported by grant assistance from the European Regional Development Fund — is being developed on a speculative basis to create a 38,000sq ft modern unit targeted at manufacturing or warehousing. “This will be the only significant sized, brand new facility ready for immediate occupation in the key Wakefield and Leeds conurbations,” claims Ian Greenwood, of agents Carter Towler.
“Whilst the West Yorkshire region has a number of second hand, older buildings available, this speculative development benefits from modern building methods, which have changed substantially in the past 20 years as a result of legislation and user requirements,” he added. “With nothing else like it on the market ready for immediate occupation, and where the infrastructure is already in place, we expect it to do very well.”
Situated close to junction 31 of the M62 — already an established distribution hub— Link 62 covers 108 acres and has consent for a range of units up to 600,000sq.ft. Existing occupiers include Bosch, SEW Eurodrive, the dietary supplement supplier Forza, and Fyffes. It is also the headquarters for Wakefield Police Authority.
“We are seeing a growing number of enquiries from international organisations attracted by the excellent location and facilities at Wakefield and by the general high quality business environment around Link 62, where no building is more than five years old,” said Greenwood, adding that having investigated the rest of the country, many companies conclude that the M62 corridor remains one of the top locations, with Wakefield as its natural heart.
When the site’s speculative project is completed this August Link 62 will have one final plot available for development. Although capable of accommodating up to 120,000sq ft of industrial or warehousing space, it is more likely to be broken down into a number of smaller units.
Wakefield Council’s service director for economic growth and housing is Sarah Pearson. “We are delighted to see the first speculative development for six years being built in Wakefield.,” she said. “Despite the recession, we have a good track record in attracting jobs to the region and a building of this calibre will enable an occupier to take immediate advantage of the improved economy without having to wait.”
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