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Sucham Park fully-let after Green Tech Industries deal

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A battery recycling and re-purposing business which is set to play a vital role in the sustainable circular green economy is opening a new testing site in Warwickshire.

Green Tech Industries Ltd has signed a five year lease on a 3,100 sq ft unit at Sucham Park as a base of operations to disassemble and test battery components.

Sucham Park is a 42,200 sq ft scheme from Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG) and the deal with Green Tech Industries means that the nine-unit scheme is now fully let.

CEO Tony Booth founded the business after identifying a gap in the expanding green economy to support businesses with waste and recycling challenges.

Since 2018, he has been investing in the development of processes to strip batteries, repurpose and then recertify the components to sell back into the industry.

Booth, from Coventry, has extensive experience in motorsport and battery technology, including working with Williams Advanced Engineering setting up a battery factory in Coventry.

From left to right, Stuart Buckley (WPDG), Andrew Jones (Wright Hassall), Tony Booth, Mark Booth (Bromwich Hardy) and Councillor Peter Butlin.

He said: “We are unique in our approach that we aren’t simply recycling batteries. We are looking to save parts that could still have more than 10 years of life in them.

“Green technology is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, but that growth has outpaced the development of a circular economy of the technology.

“While the business already has a base to discharge batteries, our new site at Sucham Park will allow them to be dissembled and tested, before being sent on to be fixed and recertified for a second life.

“Sucham Park is in a strategic location in the middle of the UK and has excellent transport links. It is a secure site and near the automotive supply chain, positioning us well for future growth.”

Green Tech Industries expects to expand its workforce to ten members of staff as it ramps up operations and has agreed a deal for additional office space at Sucham Park to support its growing team.

WPDG has worked with Bromwich Hardy to market the units at Sucham Park and secure tenants. The development is now home to six businesses that occupy units ranging from 1,900 to 15,000 sq ft in size.

Rob Andrews, head of development at WPDG, added: “Green Tech Industries is leading the way with battery repurposing and its work will be crucial as the adoption of battery technology continues to grow.

“At Sucham Park, we set out to provide high-quality small unit space to help innovative businesses grow and thrive in the region. We are proud that a diverse range of businesses are now operating from the site and after only a year since construction work completed all units have now been let, highlighting the clear demand for space of this size and type in Warwickshire.”

Councillor Peter Butlin, Deputy Leader of Warwickshire County Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, added: “Sucham Park has proven to be a much sought after location, supporting the expansion of local businesses and providing employment opportunities for local people.

“I extend a very warm welcome to Green Tech Industries Ltd as the final occupier who will be doing just that as they look to develop their operations. The fruits of the hard work of Warwickshire Property and Development Group, Wright Hassall and Bromwich Hardy are evident and on behalf of the County Council I pass on our thanks at the conclusion of this successful venture.”

Mark Booth, senior surveyor at Bromwich Hardy, said: “We are delighted to have found and agreed a deal with the sixth and final occupier at Sucham Park. The site sets the standards for the future with its impeccable green credentials and will allow all of those occupiers to thrive and grow.”

Andrew Jones, partner at Leamington law firm Wright Hassall, advised on the lease on behalf of WPDG.

He said: “We are delighted to have supported WPDG in getting the estate fully let within almost 12 months of its practical completion.

“It demonstrates that there is significant demand for these types of units in and around Warwickshire, and we are extremely pleased to have helped local SMEs to locate to the site.”

Driving progress and delivering value for Warwickshire in 2025

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Stuart Buckley, Managing Director at Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), reflects on a busy end to last year and how it has positioned the company in a strong position to carry out its ambitious plans in 2025 and beyond.

Last year we were honoured to be named Newcomer of the Year at the Insider Property Awards for our first three years in business.

At times, with the amount we have achieved already, we feel far from being a newcomer.

However, the reality is that we are only three years on since entering the regional property and development landscape.

That perspective is really important to us as an ambitious company which is committed to growing sustainably whilst  delivering value for our shareholder, Warwickshire County Council (WCC).

With a focus on our foundation goal of realising the value and economy activity from Warwickshire County Council assets for the benefit of residents in Warwickshire.

We have achieved a significant amount in the last 12 months and are set to do so again this year, with a lot of groundwork being done across the team in January to ready us for the year ahead.

RESIDENTIAL

As we came into 2025, our residential delivery is in a fantastic position with the Develop Warwickshire joint venture (JV) flourishing and an excellent pipeline of our own direct delivery homes.

One of the key goals we set out on launching the company, alongside Warwickshire County Council, was to deliver new affordable and market-priced homes for people in the county.

We are doing just that. The Develop Warwickshire JV, in partnership with Warwickshire County Council and Vistry Group, is off to an excellent start.

This is exemplified by the delivery at Top Farm in Nuneaton, with the JV now having secured planning approval for more than 500 homes at the site, providing a mix of housing types with 25% of those properties being affordable homes.

At Brookmill Meadows the first residents have moved into their homes, the very first to live in a Develop Warwickshire home.

Having a major JV up and running and delivering new homes in just 2 years is only one side of the story.

This year we will be focused on building up the WPDG-led activity at residential development sites across the region. We will soon start building the first homes at Manor Park, in Nuneaton, with our partner Seddon Housing and have been given the green light for up to 30 new homes in Bulkington. There are also a further two direct delivery sites in the pipeline as we continue to deliver housing in line with local needs.

COMMERCIAL

This time last year we celebrated the completion of our first commercial scheme, Sucham Park, a 42,200 sq ft industrial development in Southam.

In the year since, we have worked with our partners Bromwich Hardy to secure tenants for the units. We are now fully let at Sucham Park, with the final tenants moving in over the course of this month.

With excellent demand for high-quality small unit space in the region plans have now been submitted for our next scheme, which will be located on Fusiliers Way between Warwick and Leamington Spa. If approved this will see the development of 16 units across 43,000 sq ft of commercial space to support SMEs and local businesses.

We are developing a pipeline of sites which can provide high-quality space to give SMEs the space to grow and thrive in Warwickshire.

ASSET MANAGEMENT

While most of our public-facing work is on the development side, another key service we provide for the County is generating growth across its existing commercial portfolio with our dedicated asset management team.

WCC appointed Warwickshire Property Management Ltd (WPM), which is part of WPDG, to manage the lettings on hundreds of Council-owned properties.

Our team has worked tirelessly to establish and improve the relations with tenants and has undertaken over 100 lease and rent review events providing additional income to WCC and long term security to both businesses and community groups.  This includes working with new and existing tenants on the Stratford Greenway, Pooley and Ryton Country Parks together with a range of Farm Business Tenancies.

We will be continuing that good work on asset management activity over the coming year realising added value for the Council.

 

We’re all set for another active and exciting year at WPDG.

It is important that all our activity continues to support the communities that we work in, whether that be through working with communities to provide the right housing mix at our sites for local needs, or ensuring we are supporting growing businesses with the small-unit space they need.

We are in a positive position for growth and will continue to deliver work which brings significant economic and community benefits to Warwickshire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting the evolution of WPDG

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Carol Drake-Lee, Office Manager, is a key member of the team at Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG), supporting the company’s operations and making the business tick behind the scenes.

In this latest blog, Carol reflects on her three years at WPDG and her role in establishing operations, from office management and building a team to growing the company’s profile and marketing activity, while also looking ahead to the next stage of the company’s evolution.

Carol joined WPDG in 2021 and has a wealth of experience in marketing, sales, corporate hospitality, events, operations and office management in the property sector. She began her career at Rover Group, before moving into the property sector with two Warwickshire-based companies.

Carol Drake-Lee

When I saw the WPDG role advertised I knew immediately this was a company I would like to be a part of.

It was clear that WPDG was ambitious and somewhere that I could expect to make a positive impact and use all my skills.

The company has changed enormously since I joined three years ago. I’m very proud of the team that has been created and the achievements we have delivered in such a short time.

In 2021, we had a new team of three, an empty office in Warwick and a couple of desks. The foundations were there, and we set about building the business.

My time here has been incredibly rewarding and the role has entailed everything from sorting phone lines and creating a workspace for our staff, to establishing HR policies, aiding in the development of the business plan and creating marketing material to promote the company.

My career started at Rover Group in a fast-paced role in sales and marketing. I decided to take a different course after having children and started working part-time for an estate agent in Leamington, my first venture into the property sector. From there I was approached to become office manager for a rural property developer and that is where I really got into the development side and day-to-day operations of the business.

Working with the senior team and the board at WPDG I’ve been able to use many of these skills and experiences to help establish the business.

Much of my role is behind the scenes, however the WPDG branding, and website is something that is visible to external audiences.

It was important to develop a simple and professional branding that clearly identifies WPDG to its customers and partners.  This links to all our marketing material and helps communicate WPDG’s strengths and values.

In developing the new website, I was keen it should be professional, and clean and simple, in order to stand out and compete with other companies in the sector. I am proud to say the new website is up and running and provides details about WPDG developments, our latest news, important links, and information on our team, all at the click of a button.

My role has evolved dramatically over the last three years. In a very short time, the company has gone from a handful of people working in an empty office, to a well-structured team winning awards for its work in the property sector. My role will evolve again as WPDG grows further.

The key ingredients to our success have been collaboration and the excellent team we have at WPDG. Everyone is willing to jump in and help regardless of the task. It’s an exciting time for all of us to be part of a truly ambitious company and I feel privileged to be part of the team

Auto Fasteners expands in Southam at Sucham Park

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A leading global supplier of fasteners and metal engineered components to the automotive sector has expanded its presence in Southam by taking up 15,000 sq ft of space at a new industrial scheme.

Auto Fasteners Ltd, which already has five units in Southam, has signed a 10-year lease on a trio of units at Sucham Park to support its continued expansion.

It will provide warehouse, assembly, quality inspection and office space for the business which supplies parts to Volvo Group, Scania, Daimler Group, Ford, Stellantis, VW Group, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover to name but a few.

Sucham Park is a 42,200 sq ft scheme from Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG). WPDG has created nine new commercial units on the site at Holywell Business Park, which forms part of the Kineton Road Industrial Estate.

The business, which has 14 staff, formed by Scott Simpson in 2007 and moved to Southam in 2011. It is a major exporter with 90 per cent of its business exporting around the world, supplying OEMs with engineered fasteners and metal components of the highest quality.

From left to right – Mamoona Hussain (Wright Hassall), Mark Booth (Bromwich Hardy), Tamsyn Collett (Office Manager, Auto Fasteners), Dan Collett (General Manager, Auto Fasteners), Scott Simpson (Managing Director, Auto Fasteners), Rob Andrews (WPDG), Stuart Buckley (WPDG) and Councillor Peter Butlin (Warwickshire County Council).

Scott Simpson, Founder and Managing Director of Auto Fasteners, said: “We’re growing with our long-term customers and gaining new customers too, which has contributed to year-on-year turnover growth and a need for more space to support our expansion.

“It gives us the option to keep expanding and explore new opportunities. We have business in North America, Brazil, India, Japan and all over Europe.

“We are currently going through the process of opening a facility in North America, but our Headquarters will always remain here in Southam, Warwickshire.

“The location of Sucham Park is perfect for us, it’s a stone’s throw from our existing space in Southam and the units are a good size for what we are looking to do.”

Auto Fasteners is the second business to lease space at the development in Southam, which features units ranging from 1,900 to 15,000 sq ft in size.

Stuart Buckley, Managing Director of WPDG, said: “Sucham Park has been built to provide high-quality space to enable businesses to continue to grow and thrive in Warwickshire.

“Auto Fasteners are a perfect example of this and it is fantastic that they have expanded their presence in Southam with this new deal.

“We are continuing to see significant interest in space at Sucham Park as it continues to develop into a hub for business in Southam.”

Councillor Peter Butlin, Deputy Leader of Warwickshire County Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, added: “It’s great to see that Sucham Park is the preferred location to support the local growth of Auto Fasteners and pays testament to the hard work of Warwickshire Property & Development Group.

“Sucham Park is a brilliant example of a high-quality development that provides expansion potential for companies and employment opportunities for local people.”

Bromwich Hardy has been appointed to market the units at Sucham Park to prospective tenants and completed the lease.

Mark Booth, surveyor with the Coventry-based commercial property specialist, said Sucham Park had generated huge interest.

He said: “This is exactly the sort of high-quality commercial space the region needs and it’s great to see a thriving company like Auto Fasteners expanding its operation here.  The site sets the standards for the future with its impeccable green credentials and we would urge any company interested in the remaining units to get in touch quickly, such is the level of interest.”

Andrew Jones, Partner at Leamington law firm Wright Hassall, advised on the lease on behalf of WPDG, with Auto Fasteners represented by Thomas Flavell & Sons Solicitors.

Andrew said: “We are extremely pleased to support WPDG on its very first industrial scheme.

“There is significant demand for this size of unit from SMEs across the area, and it is fantastic to see WPDG helping to fill this gap in the market.

“We would be delighted to see more of these types of developments come to fruition across the region to support businesses and the growth of our economy.”

WPDG will be attending UKREiiFF, the major annual UK property development and investment conference and exhibition, from 21 to 23 May. WPDG will be hosting a stand in partnership with Invest Coventry & Warwickshire in the West Midlands Pavilion.

01926 956492 | info@wpdg.co.uk

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Warwickshire Property &
Development Group Limited

Hawkes Point, 1 Hawkes Drive,
Heathcote Industrial Estate,
Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV34 6LX