Property consultancy Harris Lamb has reported an increase in the level of enquiries and activity from manufacturing occupiers in the Stoke and Staffordshire area, indicating a promising start to 2013 and in complete contrast to official economic statistics and data.
Andrew Groves, of Harris Lamb’s Stoke-on-Trent office, said: “The number of enquiries we’ve received from engineering and manufacturing businesses seeking freehold and leasehold premises within the Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and North Staffs locations signals a positive beginning to the year.
“As 2012 closed we worked with several companies to identify new premises, including Cheshire-based food packaging manufacturer Intelipac Paper Manufacturing Limited and Rayne Engineering, and we’ve been retained by three additional manufacturing companies in the Stoke on Trent and Newcastle Under Lyme areas seeking freehold premises of approximately 10,000 sq. ft – 30,000 sq. ft, which is an encouraging sign so early in the year,” he said.
Rayne Engineering has purchased the Royal Doulton’s former factory shop and manufacturing premises in King Street, Fenton, as part of its continued growth and expansion plans.
With 135,000 sq. ft. of office and manufacturing accommodation on a five acre site, Rayne Engineering decided the site warranted a relocation from the Staffordshire Moorlands, enabling the business to tap into Stoke’s available workforce and access to the M6 motorway.
Colin Todd, Commercial Director of Rayne commented “Due to the expansion constraints at our present two sites we have been actively looking for new premises that would allow us to amalgamate out two sites, enable us to expand our current customer base, diversifying into new markets and to add new premises and machinery for greater control internally.
The search has been extremely difficult as well located industrial sites has reduced but we had excellent support and advice from Harris Lamb and Stoke City Council have welcomed our move in to the area.”
In addition, Intelipac Paper Manufacturing Limited has committed to a five year lease on two fully refurbished units on the Parkhouse Industrial Estate in Newcastle-under-Lyme, comprising of 22,100 sq. ft. of modern manufacturing/warehousing and offices.
The business has opened a brand new manufacturing operation, and while it will initially employ 20 people, it is anticipated that number will increase to 40 by the end of 2013.
Duncan Edwards, founder of Intelipac said: “We undertook an extensive search for suitable premises in the Stoke on Trent and Newcastle area and selected Parkhouse Industrial Estate due to its good location and the fact that the premises were fully refurbished modern units suitable for food packaging manufacturing.”
Andrew Groves added: “The Parkhouse Industrial Estate has long been a popular site, and there is now just one unit available on the estate which is a fully refurbished property extending to 9,679 sq. ft. Demand for good quality manufacturing and warehouse premises within the region is on the increase and early indications suggest that 2013 may see this momentum in the commercial property industry continue ; it is just important that the demand is acknowledged when it comes to investment in the region so that it is met and fulfilled.”