A production building that sits unassumingly on the edge of Park Farm Industrial Estate in Wellingborough, whilst playing an important role within the automotive industry for internationally renowned car legends such as Lotus and Aston Martin, has just secured a new occupier.
Prop-Search, acting on behalf of the landlord has secured the letting of the 55,900 sq ft facility to Burnley based BCW Manufacturing Group, part of the Ansuka Group, for a term of 10 years. BCW is a leading supplier of machined and treated parts for iconic brands such as Jaguar Land Rover, Perkins Diesel Engines, Aston Martin Lagonda, LEVC and Borg Warner.
The site at Wellingborough houses one of only a few facilities within the UK and Europe that is capable of anodising aluminium parts to the required high standard for structural bonding to be used in the automotive industry. BCW Manufacturing Group has recently secured the contract from Lotus Lightweight Structures – the previous tenant of the property – to take over the plant and continue supplying Lotus Cars, as well as Aston Marton. It will also service a growing demand from electric vehicles manufacturers and overseas markets.
Simon Toseland, a Director of letting agent Prop-Search, said: “In the early 00’s Lotus Lightweight Structures developed a strategic relationship with Aston Martin to construct an anodizing process specifically to address bonding strengths and quality of anodized chassis parts. This resulted in Lotus signing an occupational lease for the facility at Wellingborough in 2009.”
“But the property’s history with the automotive industry goes back further. Previous to the Lotus Lightweight Structures acquisition, the building was occupied by Sport Carrier, a specialist in luggage carrier systems and a Tier 1 supplier of aluminium power coated roof rails assemblies for Vauxhall/Opel.”
Claire Whelan, Managing Director, Ansuka Group – the holding company of BCW Manufacturing Group – added: “We are pleased to secure Wellingborough and its current workforce; the site will more than double our anodising capacity.”
“Anodising is the perfect treatment for lightweight sports vehicles such as the Lotus Emira. We offer an aluminium anodising service of the highest standard, providing an end product for lightweight bonded aluminium structures where bond durability and corrosion resistance are equally critical. BCW offers added focus on enhanced sustainability of the anodising process, which this site delivers to.”
Claire continued: “We have been busy working to ensure the transition to BCW is as smooth as possible. We have a fantastic team to help deliver this and we are looking forward to running the first programmes from the new site.”
“This site is just the right fit for us and having a Midlands presence is strategically important to our long-term vision in BCW’s growth; Wellingborough now enhances and strengthens BCW capabilities. With the 20 jobs already in Wellingborough, this grows the BCW group to in excess of 300 staff, additionally our manufacturing footprint has grown to 310,000 square feet across the UK.”
Occupying a site extending to approximately 3.56 acres, the property comprises a secure, self-contained warehouse providing industrial and ancillary office accommodation which has been extensively fitted out by Lotus during their time in occupation with continuous technology updates. The warehouse benefits from a minimum clear eaves height of approximately 5.6m, two level access and one dock level loading doors, and separate office accommodation to the front of the building. There is a generous loading yard with HGV parking, and circa. 60 dedicated car parking spaces.
