Over the last few years, Grade II listed “The Depot” at Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire, has been steadily converted from a former army stores and barracks dating back to the Napoleonic Wars into a vibrant 200,000 sq ft business centre with period offices, workshops and stores rich in character.
Now the latest stage of the transformation is nearing its conclusion: the conversion of “Building 17” into 18,000 sq ft of quirky workspace over three floors – including 6,000 sq ft of co-working space for small enterprises as well as 12,000 sq ft over two further floors that are being partitioned to form a range of larger units.
Building 17 was historically used as the store for army uniforms and its beautiful wooden floors, exposed brick walls, steel beams and doors are a reminder of its proud past.
Conveniently located just off the A5 and M1, The Depot is set in 15 acres of grounds with the centre piece a former spur to the Grand Union Canal, now home to a wealth of wildlife. The site also hosts a visitor centre, café and shops. Dozens of businesses have already made their base here, ranging from call centres, craft workshops and candlemakers through to a gymnasium, microbrewery and classic car customising company.
“Building 17 brings an additional dimension to The Depot,” says site owner Michael Chittenden. “We are tapping into the current trend for ‘smart working’ where business owners – especially at a time when contract work is so popular – look for maximum flexibility from staff and their workspace.
“At Building 17 you can rent everything from a single desk up to a single occupier taking 18,000 sq ft, all on flexible terms, and with the ability to take on more space as and when needed. Effectively it’s workspace that grows with you… and doesn’t hold you back if your business takes off.
“We’re also providing the facilities and creative ambience today’s businesses look for: character workspace, amenities such as a coffee shop, video conferencing suite, sound room to record podcasts, plus huddle spaces and meeting rooms where you can talk to clients or make presentations.”
There’s ample free parking at The Depot, and the site is also highly secure, with high walls and 24/7 guard protection. Building 17 is the anchor building at one end of the site and served by its own access road.
The Depot was built at Weedon Bec over 200 years ago by the British Army because then – as now – it was at the heart of the nation’s logistics network. Provisions and munitions could be securely stored from all around the country and distributed quickly.
At the beginning, the site was initially served by canal, then railway, and now it is a few hundred yards from the A5 and A45 and just a few miles from the M1 – making it easily accessible to the nation’s road network and conveniently close to local centres such as Milton Keynes, Northampton, Banbury, Daventry and Coventry.
“Many companies don’t want to be held back by conventional leases which tie them into long-term commitments,” concludes Michael Chittenden. “At Building 17, if your business needs evolve or you want to work on a ‘core and flex’ basis, you can readily move into another unit or one of the host of other business units at The Depot. If you need low cost storage and distribution facilities close by – again we can easily accommodate you.”
