A fast-growing industrial location in the East Midlands is sitting back and relaxing after one of the most famous names in high-quality British furniture revealed plans to open a 100,000 sq ft manufacturing facility on the site.
Parker Knoll, famous for its hand-crafted British designs, is to open a major new facility at Castlewood, the business park on the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border that has been developed by Clowes Developments.
Parker Knoll has an incredible 145-year history and has become recognised as one of the most well-known brands in locally designed and manufactured fine furniture, ranging from classic sofas to chairs and recliners.
The new two-storey building will accommodate manufacturing of Parker Knoll’s upmarket furniture along with associated offices and storage space.
Parker Knoll is the latest in a series of expanding manufacturing businesses to sign up to Castlewood Business Park, joining a number of supply chain companies who work with manufacturing giants like Rolls-Royce and Jaguar Land Rover.
Its new building will also be alongside large-scale logistics facilities run by supermarket giant Co-op Food and pharmaceutical distribution firm UDG.
Donna Bellingham, Brand Director of Parker Knoll, said: “We are very pleased to be expanding our manufacturing facility with the move to Castlewood Business Park. This new site provides a fantastic new manufacturing base for the Parker Knoll brand, and we look forward to sitting alongside the high calibre of names that will also occupy the site.”
The deal to bring Parker Knoll to Castlewood Business Park was completed by Tim Gilbertson, of the Nottingham property consultancy FHP. He has been involved in all the major deals on the site, including those which brought manufacturers Meridian Lightweight Technologies, Midland Aerospace and Bombardier to the site.
He said: “All the talk about activity along the M1 corridor has been about the opening of large-scale distribution warehouses and Castlewood has one of the biggest in the region in the shape of the Co-op. But it is also playing in part in helping to deliver balanced economic growth by enabling some important manufacturing businesses to expand.
“The best part of one million square feet of space at Castlewood is now occupied by some very impressive names. What’s really encouraging is the fact that we are also taking to a number of other major occupiers about further development on the site.”
James Richards, of Clowes Developments, says the continuing success of the site is testimony to its location and Clowes’ experience in delivering buildings which meet clients’ specifications and timescales.
“Economic conditions have been challenging for everyone over the past few years, but Castlewood has continued to attract occupiers because this is one of the strongest locations for logistics and manufacturing in the East Midlands,” he said. “It connects directly to the A38, linking businesses to the M1, the Mansfield-Ashfield Regeneration Route and the A1. In other words, you can reach regional and national markets easily and quickly.
“We have been committed to delivering quality here right from the start and that is reflected in the calibre of the people who are now based here. We’re delighted to welcome Parker Knoll as one of the most famous names in furniture.”
With more than 1,000 people now based at Castlewood Business Park, Tim Gilbertson says plans are also being drawn up to develop on-site facilities which could include a restaurant and petrol station.
