Delivering commercial developments to meet business needs
Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG) is nearing completion of its first commercial development – Sucham Park in Southam.
The 42,000 sq ft scheme is delivering nine commercial units, ranging in size from between 1,900 and 15,000 sq ft.
MCS Group has been completing the construction project on behalf of WPDG.
Rob Andrews, Head of Development at WPDG, looks ahead to the completion of the scheme and the economic benefit it will bring to Southam.
Sucham Park was the very first scheme that started on site after the formation of WPDG and we are very excited to soon be able to celebrate its completion.
We were formed to ensure that the Council’s land holding achieves its economic potential and brings benefit to local communities – the jobs that Sucham Park is set to create at Holywell Business Park is an example of that.
The site which is now home to the development has been vacant for many years and is the last remaining development plot in the area.
We achieved planning consent just a year ago and in that 12 months we have transformed the site into an industrial scheme which is providing high-quality space for businesses of a range of sizes.
It’s safe to say that we have come a long way, and that the completion of our first direct delivery project is a major milestone for all of us at WPDG.
We started on site in March and the strength of partnership with MCS has led to the scheme being delivered in just eight months.
As part of this development we were keen that the economic benefit stayed in the region at every stage of the process, so working with Warwick-based MCS ticked all of those boxes.
The development has already generated local employment in the build, and is set to generate 100 more new jobs when it is fully-occupied.
After this success, we are in a position now where we will be able to roll out that delivery model on multiple other occasions.
Across the county there is a lack of commercial development being brought forward of this scale and size.
There is a need that exists across the county, in Southam and other districts and boroughs, for more high quality small unit space for businesses.
This has been reflected in the interest we have seen in the units since they hit the market, and we were proud to be able to announce RMF Installation and Services as the first tenant earlier this year.
We look forward to welcoming RMF to Sucham Park when it is completed.
We have been working closely with Bromwich Hardy on lettings for the space, and for every unit there have been constant enquiries and multiple viewings.
High-quality space is difficult to come by for businesses and for too long the market has had to accept poor quality accommodation. The energy-efficient build has also proved popular among potential tenants, particularly with the 10 electric vehicle charging points and roof mounted PV. Our fabric first approach has achieved high levels of air permeability with the buildings achieving an EPC rating of A.
Sucham Park is a scheme which will help businesses to grow and thrive right here in Warwickshire, while also strengthening Southam’s industrial offer.
We are confident that in the next couple of months the space at Sucham Park will be fully-let, and we are expecting to be able to announce further tenants in the very near future.
We will continue to work to drive added value across the Council’s land portfolio, but we are also in the market for new opportunities and willing to speak with land owners regarding any potential development sites.