Hat-trick of deals at prime Wakefield development site

Three new Yorkshire firms are moving into Flanshaw Way, close to Junction 40 of the M1, which is owned by Yorkshire property company Frank Marshall Estates.

The Bradford-based developer bought the four-acre site from Flanshaw Property for £1.3m last year.

The three companies are LJB, an engineering parts distributor, Valour Automotive, a car parts distributor and high-end surface finishers and plasterers, Stucco & Stucco.

Together the three companies have taken 7,300 sq ft of quality industrial and office space.

Edward Marshall, director of Frank Marshall Estates, said the three deals were “a resounding endorsement of what Flanshaw Way has to offer”.

“When we bought this land, we promised to create the best business park that Wakefield has ever had,” he said.

“We are now delivering on that promise. Apart from these three completed deals, we have another six units under offer, which is remarkable, given the challenges the Yorkshire commercial property sector faces with Covid-19.

“It is clear that there is a massive pent-up demand in West Yorkshire for high quality buildings of 10,000 sq ft and under in great locations. We are proud to be the leading developer in the region for this specific market.

“We are also delighted to welcome these three new, successful companies to our estate. We favour quality, local businesses as tenants, as we enjoy dealing with people who love their business as much as we love ours.”

Flanshaw Way is being developed in two phases. The first includes 49,200 sq ft of quality industrial and office space, including a seven-unit Nano Park. The second phase, with plans currently under consideration, could facilitate a further 30,000 sq ft in either a single building or more small units. Currently small units are favoured as the demand for them in the first phase has been so strong.

The first phase of the development of the 37,300 sq ft Flanshaw Business Park and the 11,900 sq ft Flanshaw Nano Park will be completed in June this year.

“There are only three units remaining now at the Business Park, including Unit 10, which comprises 9,500 sq ft of industrial and office space, with a high-quality fit out and road prominence,” said Mr Marshall.

“Overall, this is a tremendously exciting project, which will bring much-needed employment and business space to the Wakefield area.”

The main contractor is Bradford-based Percy Pickard.

Andy Robinson, the owner and managing director of Stucco & Stucco, which was previously based at nearby Horbury, said: “We have been looking for suitable new premises for our expanding business for some time now, but there was nothing really suitable in the Wakefield area until we heard about Flanshaw Way.

“The quality of the build, the secure and easily accessible location and the potential to create our own bespoke mezzanine interior were all just ideal for us. We couldn’t have asked for more.

“Apart from our main importing business, we also run a Surface Design Training Academy and our superb new premises with a showroom are just perfect for this. We can’t wait to move in.”

Mr Marshall said: “Wakefield is a logistics and distribution hotspot, thanks to its superb position at the centre of Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network.

“We estimate that the park, once it is fully developed out, will maintain 200 new and sustainable jobs, providing a substantial boost to the area’s economy.

“This is going to be a development of which Wakefield will be really proud. The city is a well-established commercial centre with a large, skilled labour force. We have a proven record of developing successful business parks and Nano Parks in West Yorkshire and this gives us the confidence and the belief that we can attract quality occupiers to this site.”