The first occupier at the £120 million Worcester Six business park has been secured by leading commercial property developer Stoford Developments.
A new 140,000 sq ft business unit is set to be built after Kimal PLC agreed to locate its new headquarters at the prestigious site, located off junction six of the M5 near Worcester. The development will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation and create up to 5,000 jobs.
Kimal, a market leader in developing and manufacturing a range of innovative products and procedural solutions for the healthcare sector, has agreed a 15-year lease for the £13 million unit, Stoford director Gerard Ludlow confirmed.
A planning application will be submitted to Worcestershire County Council. If consent is forthcoming, construction could commence in October with practical completion expected in mid 2018.
The new HQ demonstrates Kimal’s determination to remain in Worcestershire where it will continue to grow, with plans to create up to an additional 100 jobs.
The company’s success means it is outgrowing its existing accommodation at Droitwich and Redditch. Employees at these two centres will be relocated to the new HQ. The company will continue to operate at sites in Bromsgrove and Uxbridge.
Kimal is investing £3 million in an initial fit out phase, with a further £3 million investment in facilities in the pipeline. The company was represented by international real estate advisor Savills.
Gerard Ludlow said: “The agreement with Kimal marks a significant milestone as it is the first pre-let occupier to be secured at the site.
“Worcester Six business park has been selected as the preferred site for Kimal’s new facility due to its excellent communications and proximity to its existing employee base. It represents a major commitment by Kimal to the Worcestershire area. The business is a key employer in a prestigious sector.”
Alan Press, Chief Executive Officer at Kimal, said: “The move to Worcester Six demonstrates our continued commitment to the area which we first invested into in 1990 and will help Kimal realise its’ exciting growth plans going forward.”
Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure Dr Ken Pollock: “Kimal is a very successful family owned business with a proud history of manufacturing in Worcestershire employing more than 330 people. Welcoming a company of this calibre to Worcester Six enhances the region’s reputation as a world-class business location, and will provide a great boost to employment and the regional economy.”
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We welcome the news that Kimal has become the first investment on to the premier business site, Worcester 6. The creation of new jobs will help to boost the local economy and the expansion of innovative, market leading businesses is important for delivering the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership’s 10 year Strategic Economic Plan. This is the type of business that will define the Worcestershire economy as an excellent place to invest and we therefore look forward to similar announcements in the near future.”
Kimal’s three existing Worcestershire sites provide a manufacturing facility, sales and marketing space and storage and distribution premises. Its HQ will host a number of international guests visiting the site on a regular basis, as well as teams in customer service, product sales, research and development, assembly lines, distribution and the manufacture of medical products.
Kimal’s turnover last year was approximately £45 million, with 60% of this generated in the UK. It is launching a further dedicated manufacturing facility in Egypt for one of its innovative product ranges. As a company Kimal is a trusted and innovative developer of devices and procedural solutions for a range of clinical departments, and supplies to health organisations in more than 70 countries across the world.