Lease flexibility and location were the driving force behind a Wellingborough company’s decision to expand into additional warehouse premises in the town, on the Leyland Trading Estate.
Hitec Lift Trucks has a 33 year history is the town as one of the leading fork-lift trucks and national handing equipment dealership in the region, and was acquired a year ago by Briggs Equipment UK Limited. As a result of the acquisition, the company has extended its range of products and broadened its coverage via the Briggs network. This necessitated the need for additional accommodation.
Chris Billson, a Director of Wellingborough based commercial property agent, Prop-Search, said: “We were approached by Hitec as their search for additional premises began. It was soon established that the philosophy behind the flexible lease packages promoted by Northern Trust, for units on the Leyland Trading Estate, fitted with Hitec’s immediate aspirations for expansion. In terms of location, the Estate also complimented the company’s existing headquarters on Bradfield Road.”
Hitec has subsequently agreed to lease a modern 7,426 sq ft warehouse facility at Unit 133 Leyland Trading Estate.
Prospero Girardi, Managing Director of Hitec Lift Trucks; said: “Through Briggs, we have become a Hyster dealership, welcoming new equipment into our already broad fleet, and increasing our ability to provide our customers with an even bigger, better range of materials handling machinery.”
He added: “The new facility on the Leyland Trading Estate will become our short-term hire and sales centre. This frees up space at HQ to concentrate on our used approved centre, endorsed by Hyster and expand our training division that provides everything from fork lift refresher training, to in-depth manual handling qualifications – with available courses in fork lift driving, IPAF, Pasma, driver CPC, first aid, gantry crane, manual handling and Hiab.”
On a local level, Hitec Lift Trucks has an extensive fleet of new and pre-owned equipment available for sale, and short and long-term hire. Scissor lifts, telescopic handlers and forklifts are just a few examples of equipment that have seen a recent rise in popularity, with cleaning and warehouse equipment and additional training and breakdown service also making their mark.
Leyland Trading Estate has itself seen expansion over the past few years with the development of an additional 42,447 sq ft, part funded by the South Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP). This new space – in unit sizes from 542 sq ft up to 8,928 sq ft – brings the Estate up to just over 230,000 sq ft.
Commenting on the continuing popularity of Leyland Trading Estate, Chris Billson added: “Many occupiers attracted to Estate are so as it offers a good mix of businesses, and modern new and refurbished accommodation, with the added benefit of on-site estate management and security. Likewise, its flexible lease packages – with commitments from just 12 months up to long-term rental options.”
Recently the Estate has also been afforded further good news, with Network Rail’s commencing work to reconstruct the Irthlingborough Road bridge. This will be a like-for-like structure, to replace the one that was demolished in 2018. It will be built in the same location, but rebuilt at a raised height to allow for the electrification of the Bedford to Kettering and Corby line and is scheduled to open in Summer 2020.
