Leading Yorkshire property company, Glentrool Estates Group, has pre-sold a 50,000 sqft distribution warehouse at its pioneering Sherburn2 business park at Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Leeds.
The bespoke facility is being purchased for £4.5 million by Cromwell Polythene Ltd to cater for a growing business.
Glentrool Estates is transforming the 75-acre site at Junction 42 of the A1(M) into a first-class business and employment park. The £105 million development has the capacity to create 2,250 sustainable jobs.
Jeremy Nolan, a director of Glentrool, commented: “Securing our first customer at Sherburn2 is really significant. It is a clear vote of confidence for our development and demonstrates we are up and running. We are delighted to welcome Cromwell Polythene Ltd, a flourishing local family-run business, to Sherburn2.
“We have worked closely with Cromwell over the past few months to ensure their building is perfect for their business and provides a platform for growth for a secure and successful future.
“Glentrool take a hands-on approach with our customers. Our own design team has guided Cromwell through the procurement process to provide them precisely with the building they need on commercial terms which work for both of us.
“Cromwell’s high-quality facility featuring smart wrap-around offices will be at the gateway to Sherburn2 and will be a great showcase for both Glentrool and Cromwell. We are planning to start construction of this flagship building this October with completion in the spring of 2019,” said Mr Nolan.
James Lee, managing director of Cromwell Polythene, a leading supplier of recycled polythene and compostable film products, said: “This is a sound investment for us. We have outgrown our current premises in Sherburn and were looking for a larger building close by. The exciting Sherburn2 development next door is just perfect, allowing us to remain in a superb business and logistics location while creating new premises to suit our needs.
“We currently employ 33 people. Our move will double our warehouse capacity, allowing us to create many more new jobs and to continue expanding our operations. In the short to medium term we hope this will create another 7 jobs. Once we’ve fully grown into the site we believe we could support somewhere in the region of 50 employees.
“We are looking forward to moving to Sherburn2 in Spring 2019 and being part of the largest new employment site in the Selby District in the last 15 years.” said Mr Lee.
Jeremy Nolan explained: “Until such time as we have a building and our first customer, we only have a field with planning permission. It is not a development. The Cromwell deal is pivotal as this demonstrates certainty of delivery for the other customers with whom we are currently working.
“The first phase of infrastructure is complete, with the second phase due for completion prior to occupation of Cromwell’s building. The total infrastructure will cost of £4.5 million once complete with an additional £65 to £70m to be spent on building construction. We have secured planning for 1.25m sq ft to deliver manufacturing and distribution warehouses from 35,000sq ft 1,000,000sq ft.
“A funding package for the finance of the construction has been secured which will facilitate the rapid delivery of bespoke buildings on a design and build basis.
He added: “Selby District Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership have provided support to help to get this project off the ground. As momentum gathers pace at Sherburn2, we would like to thank them”.
The Leader of Selby District Council, Cllr Mark Crane, commented: “Sherburn2 is a great opportunity for our district, and businesses locating there will be able to benefit from the things that make our area a great place to do business. Situated right in the heart of Yorkshire with easy links to the national road and rail network, with a skilled local workforce, we know this new business space will appeal to range of different business types.”
The sole marketing agents for Sherburn2 are the Leeds office of Colliers International.