Strategic Sites Selected to Deliver Rotherham Industrial Scheme

Strategic Sites and UK COAL will form a joint venture company to develop 94,000 sq ft (8,732 sq m) of high-tech manufacturing accommodation on a 6.4 acre (2.6 hectare) site.

 
The scheme will comprise up to 15 units, ranging from 2,500 sq ft (232 sq m) to 27,500 sq ft (2,555 sq m) in size and will have an end value of around £8 million.  When fully occupied, the entire scheme is likely to house around 200 jobs in total.

 
A detailed planning application has been submitted and, subject to approval, work is expected to start on site in Autumn 2007, with the first units available for occupation by Spring 2008.

 
Anuj Joshi, development director at Strategic Sites, comments: “We are pleased to have been selected as a partner by UK COAL and are proud to be associated with one of Yorkshire’s most significant regeneration projects. This scheme is a great prospect for manufacturing/technological operators and we have already held discussions with a number of interested parties.  We hope that based on the success of this joint venture, it will be our first development of many at Waverley.”

 
Tim Love, development director at UK COAL, adds:  “The AMP is a key site in UK COAL’S development portfolio and has already attracted major players in high-tech industries associated with aerospace and metals.  We believe our joint venture with Strategic Sites will not only complement what already exists, but will increase business diversity by providing a range of buildings which are immediately available for new or expanding companies to occupy and grow their business”.

The land to be developed sits within the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), a world-class technology park being delivered by UK COAL and Yorkshire Forward.  AMP, which is being developed on a 100 acre (40 hectare) Brownfield site, is currently home to a number of leading research organisations such as AMRC (a joint venture between Boeing and the University of Sheffield), Cti and TWI.

 
Dave Custance, head of strategic development and property for Yorkshire Forward said:  “We have built up the technical capacity on the AMP, and we are confident that this additional business space will support the development of commercial enterprises that will strengthen the regional economy.”

 
Guy Gilfillan of Lambert Smith Hampton (Sheffield) who is the agent of the overall scheme at Waverley explained: "Our business space team is incredibly excited about marketing the Advanced Manufacturing Park and this latest speculative development. This latest scheme will offer ideal space for growing small and medium sized enterprises.

 
“The Park offers a range of investment opportunities for companies involved in precision manufacturing, from start ups to university spin off companies, it can offer space within an Innovation Technology Centre, design and build opportunities and land plots for freehold development.” 

 
Strategic Sites is a joint venture between Helios Properties plc, Kilmartin Property Group and JC Musgrave Ltd.  The company is headed by Paul Barber, a former director of English Partnerships, who spearheads a team with extensive experience of delivering large-scale development projects.  With around £50m of resources to invest over the next 3 years, the company is focused on developing sites in regeneration areas throughout the UK.

 
This is Strategic Sites’ second scheme in Rotherham, having recently started work on a 95,000 sq ft (8,826 sq m) business park in Templeborough, Rotherham.

-ends-

For further information, please contact:

Anuj Joshi, Strategic Sites                             01937 584444

Simon Stretch, Porterfield PR                        020 7647 4420

Tim Love, UK COAL                                         01302 755187

Guy Gilfillan, Lambert Smith Hampton         0114 270 2702