Savills has increased its involvement with a Midland’s manufacturing hub by negotiating the sale of a development plot and agreeing to market two new zones within the scheme.
The Homes and Community Agency and Birmingham City Council, joint owners of the Advanced Manufacturing Hub in Aston, have sold the 6.7-acre plot to HydraForce Hydraulics for an undisclosed sum.
A Local Development Order (LDO) is already in place for the entire site, allowing planning consent for research and development, manufacturing or light industrial use. The company, which designs hydraulic valves for various international industries, says it hopes to start work on its new 120,000 sq ft factory within weeks. When complete next August the facility will provide work for around 500 staff.
The joint owners have also hired Savills to attract future tenants to the 40-acre project close to the soon-to-be-ungraded Junction 6 of the M6 motorway. Two new zones within the hub — available forbuildings of around 50,000 sq ft and 140,000 sq ft — have now been opened up with new occupiers allowed to select their own development partners and access togrant funding assistance.
Charles Spicer is an associate director at Savills. “This is an exciting step forward for the Advanced Manufacturing Hub as HydraForce Hydraulics is the first occupier to commit to the site,” he said. “And with Birmingham’s industrial market thriving, we are confident we will be able to announce further commitments to the site in due course.”
The Astonhub is one of six zones identified by the city authority as areas where specific industrial sectors can be encouraged to invest and locate. Others include a food hub in Witton and the city centre enterprise zone created in association with the Local Enterprise Partnership.
An unusual project within the engineering-focused hub is the restoration of the Aston Tavern (pictured). Built in 1904 and derelict for more than two decades, Chelle Property has transformed it into a restaurant and pub with overnight accommodation targeted at Ashton workers and business visitors.
“I am delighted to see the historic Aston Tavern refurbished to such a high standard,” commented Tahir Ali, a city council cabinet member for development, transport and the economy. “It was in a very poor state of repair and it has now been revived to become a real asset to the area and the Advanced Manufacturing Hub.”
Attempting to cash in on the success of Jaguar Land Rover, the hub will support the city’s growing automotive and aerospace supply chains as well as other advanced manufacturers. Intended to be a three-phase, 15-year development it has not been without its critics.
As part of the first phase development, the ConcentricPark Industrial Estate was included within the site and earmarked for demolition — despite being fully let and with its 16 aerospace and automotive companies employing more than 150 people.
“The council wish to obtain the industrial estate using their compulsory purchase order powers against the wishes of all the businesses involved and the owners of the site and despite concerns thatit would have consequences for their viability and the many staff they employ,” claims Concentric’s web site.
