A new laboratory and office base deal has been brokered by commercial property experts Vail Williams at The University of Southampton Science Park for an expanding international safety testing company.
It was the second biggest office letting in the Southampton area during 2014 and will see Chilworth Technology Ltd – which began 30 years ago in a single room at nearby Chilworth Manor – taking up 16,600 square feet of office and laboratory space at Phi House.
The premises have been taken back to a shell as part of a multi -million refit to install improved electrical systems and more effective insulation, heating and air conditioning.
The new accommodation will also be equipped with a whole new laboratory wing, almost doubling the capacity of the facility for process safety testing compared to Beta House, Chilworth Technology Ltd’s current base, which it has outgrown.
The new lease at Phi House is for 10 years and Chilworth Technology Ltd will take up residence in March. The company has been at the Science Park for the last 25 years.
Andy Gibbs, Vail Williams Associate, Business Space, said: “This is an excellent result for all parties, helping to unlock business growth and development. We’re very pleased our expertise and knowledge helped to bring them together.
“The deal shows that there is a lot of economic strength in this area which can be nurtured and encouraged with the right kind of commercial property arrangements to create jobs and investment.”
Vail Williams worked to broker the deal between its client, The University of Southampton Science Park, and Chilworth Technology Ltd and its agent BNP Paribas.
Chilworth Technology Ltd has pioneered process safety in the UK while sharing its testing, consulting and training expertise worldwide.
Headquartered in the UK, the company has branches in the USA, Italy, France, Spain and India, with laboratories in Southampton, Princeton in the US, and Shanghai.
Stephen Rowe, managing director of Chilworth Technology Ltd, said: “This move will enable us to increase our testing and consulting capacity to support our continued growth in a modern, purpose built, state-of-the-art facility.”
“Our parent company, DEKRA, is fully behind us and we are delighted to have their backing for the next phase of our evolution. Our choice to remain on the Science Park endorses the fact that the Science Park environment fits our brand exceptionally well. The new facilities that are being created at Phi House tick all the boxes.”
Peter Birkett, CEO of The University of Southampton Science Park, said: “It’s always a pleasure to see Science Park companies achieve such significant growth. Chilworth Technology is a great example of a small start-up that has grown into a significant force whilst on the park.”
