Evans Property Group has leased the 56,500 sq ft Unit 24 at its flagship Millshaw Park Industrial Estate in Leeds to existing occupier, Express Bi-Folding Doors (EBFD), who has diversified its business through acquisition and will be creating its largest UK showroom, bringing about some 70 new jobs. DTZ acted for Evans in securing the 20 year lease and EBFD was unrepresented.
EBFD has now leased almost 100,000 sq ft at Millshaw Park in under a 12 month period and, having already invested £1m into its first facility, will be committing a further £1m into the new showroom in the next year.
EBFD, which has 4 UK showrooms, leased the neighbouring 43,097 sq ft Unit 23 at Millshaw Park last summer following consistent growth since the company’s establishment 8 years ago. The firm invested £1m in pioneering new machinery for the new unit which was used to relocate its manufacturing and distribution operations into from 3 local sites. 25 jobs were also created.
In January 2015, EBFD continued its bold plans for growth by acquiring a Wakefield-based kitchen, bedroom furniture and bathroom company, safeguarding employee jobs in the process, which is now branded as Express In The Home. The new 56,500 sq ft unit will be utilised to create the company’s largest UK showroom, showcasing both businesses and will facilitate in the region of 70 new, full-time jobs for the local area.
Millshaw Park is one of Leeds’ most established industrial locations with just under 500,000 sq ft of industrial and warehouse accommodation in 29 units ranging from 2,600 sq ft to 60,000 sq ft fronting the Leeds Outer Ring Road. Existing occupiers include DHL, Crystal Electronics, EBFD and PM Displays.
Steve Bromberg, Managing Director of EBFD, said; “Our decision to move to Millshaw Park last year was to consolidate the business into one smart and easily accessible location which could be reached by our UK-wide client base and from which we could further expand. The recent establishment of Express In The Home is an incredibly exciting move for the business and we are delighted to have both safeguarded local jobs and to also be creating some 70 more. The total £1m investment into the new showroom will create a superb showcase for our business.”
Catherine Godfrey, Property Manager at Evans Property Group, continues; “Our continued investment into Millshaw Park has ensured the attraction and retention of tenants and it is fantastic that EBFD has decided to grow its successful business at the Park. The Park is well placed, just off the M621, for visitors to the new showroom and we look forward to seeing the unit’s transformation.”
Paul Mack, Head of DTZ’s Yorkshire Industrial and Logistics Team, added; “Millshaw Park is one of the largest single owned industrial estates in the region comprising over 463,000 sq ft of high quality warehouse / industrial premises. This transaction means that there is now circa 10,000 sq ft left available representing a record void level of circa 2.2%. We are delighted for our clients to achieve this level of success and this result demonstrates the quality of the estate and the location.”
EBFD regularly has its products featured on TV programmes such as Grand Designs and has additional showrooms in Glasgow, Redhill and Romford.
