Nearly half of the land at Dalton New Bridge (DNB), a new and pioneering 66-acre commercial and industrial development site in North Yorkshire, is now under offer.
The site, strategically located at the heart of the county’s excellent road network near Thirsk, is a proven home for manufacturing, engineering, distribution and the food industry.
Last month Yorkshire animal feed manufacturer I’Anson announced its intention to build a major new production facility on site, subject to planning permission.
Mike Dove, partner with leading Leeds-based property consultancy Dove Haigh Phillips (DHP), who are marketing DNB, explained: “This week we can confirm that further transactions with potential occupiers, who cannot be named yet, have been agreed and that 31 acres are now under offer.
“This is a resounding endorsement of DNB, a superbly-located site which we only started marketing this spring, following the completion of the new bridge and approach road. This opened up the land, providing an excellent modern link to the adjacent highway network.
“Meanwhile this strong interest from occupiers is also encouraging developers to come forward. We expect that Dalton New Bridge will be delivering a wide range of quality employment buildings for both purchasers and tenants within the near future.
“In view of the pent-up need for quality industrial space in North Yorkshire, it is likely that developers will want both to build speculatively and to create bespoke buildings for specific occupiers.
“This is one of the premier development sites to come to market in Yorkshire this year. It has tremendous potential, with immediate access to the national motorway network, recently improved by multi-million pound highway upgrades. A proven location has just got even better.”
The location is already home to successful engineering, manufacturing, logistics and food industry companies with nearby occupiers including Wagg Foods, National Tube Stockholders (NTS), Severfield PLC, GRIEFF, Cargill, Cleveland Steel and Tubes (CST), Fermenich, Harrington’s Pet Foods and The Wetherby Group.
Lindsay Ross, director with the owners of The Dalton New Bridge Estate, commented: “We have been absolutely delighted with the immediate and strong interest that has been shown in our development since it was launched a couple of months ago.
“We are especially pleased to work alongside I’Anson, a well-known and successful Yorkshire company. We believe that our site is highly attractive to suit dynamic businesses, given its strategic location and ability to accommodate large scale operations. I’Anson are clearly demonstrating in this venture that they are fully committed to ensuring the future of their business in this area and are also committed to the future interests of their employees and customers and we are here to help them.
“Dalton New Bridge is a very exciting employment development opportunity, which will provide a timely boost to the North Yorkshire economy, creating hundreds of jobs and leading to valuable inward investment. We are now open for business.
“On a personal level, I have worked at Dalton for more than 25 years and know at first-hand what a first-class logistics and distribution location it is. Its immediate access to both the A1 (M) and the A19 is priceless, connecting swiftly to Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network of the M1 and the M62 and leading on to the national motorway network.
“Dalton has long been associated with successful and enterprising businesses which are now recognised as leading UK companies,” said Mr Ross.
Land is available on a freehold basis with plots on offer from five acres to buildings up to 400,000 sq ft. Buildings will be tailored to the requirements of individual companies.
Mr Dove explained: “A significant feature of this site is its size, unique in North Yorkshire. Dalton New Bridge can accommodate major projects, which require large-scale buildings with potential for future expansion, sites and plots appealing to developers and occupiers alike.
“It is just four miles from both Junction 49 of the A1(M), giving immediate north/south access, and the A19. Teesside and Tyneside are located to the north east via the A19, leading on to Teesport and Durham Tees Valley Airport and the North. Nearby towns include Thirsk (5 miles), Harrogate (10 miles), York (24 miles) and Leeds (34 miles), while Leeds-Bradford Airport is a 45-minute drive away.
Mr Ross added: “The entire 66-acre site has been proposed for employment use within the upcoming revised Hambleton Local Plan. Hambleton District Council, together with the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), have been very supportive.”
The site has recently been opened up by a significant £4.1m highway redevelopment project, involving a new bridge, replacing its ageing, flood-blighted predecessor.
Deputy Chief Executive of Hambleton District Council, Mick Jewitt, said that having already safeguarded 126 jobs and creating around 137 more, the redeveloped bridge was now also helping to bring in new investment.