News: Rotherham development plots sold to joint venture - Catalyst coming

Development sites with the potential to create around 1,000 jobs in Rotherham have been sold to a joint venture between Premcor Estates and Peveril Securities.

Plans were approved in 2019 to enable the successful Sheffield Business Park to expand into Rotherham. "Phase 4" is planned for a 17.9-acre site that was previously kept in the greenbelt when Sheffield City Airport was in operation.

Premcor, a private UK based property development company, has joined with Peveril Securities, a wholly owned investment and development division of Bowmer and Kirkland, on its first ever South Yorkshire site.

Land between Europa Link and the Parkway is set to be transformed to create a prominent business gateway to the Sheffield city region's wider Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), with the proposals including building footprints ranging from 10,764 sq ft to 107,649 sq ft of B1b (research and development), B1c (industrial process), B2 (general industrial) and B8 (storage and distribution) facilities.

Following the deal, for an undisclosed sum, the project has been renamed "Catalyst" and will be developed as a mixture of industrial and logistics units totalling 285,000 sq ft in a landscaped parkland setting. Designs are being submitted with construction work scheduled to commence in the third quarter 2021.

Graham Sadler, managing director at Sheffield Business Park, said: "Phase 4 is one of the last remaining development opportunities on the park which is well placed to serve occupier demand and help drive forward Sheffield City Region’s economic growth.

"We have an excellent working relationship with the commercial property team at Keebles and have utilised their high-quality real estate team for a number of years."

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Rebecca Schofield, partner and head of the Yorkshire industrial team at Knight Frank, acted for Sheffield Business Park, and are retained agents with BNP Paribas on the scheme.

Rebecca said: "This site represents the last remaining plot of this size at Sheffield Business Park, easily accessible from Sheffield Parkway with convenient links to the north and south from the M1.

"The site and its development potential will address strong demand for industrial accommodation across the region as well occupiers looking to be close to the Advanced Manufacturing Park."

Led by Keebles’ Partner Richard Smith, the firm’s commercial property team acted as legal advisors to Sheffield Business Park. Richard said: "We were delighted to advise on the sale of Phase 4, which is in a prime position fronting Sheffield Parkway and close to the M1.

"It is always rewarding to advise on a deal which will bring further development opportunities to Sheffield, with some high-profile names having been based in the area for some time now."

Images: Premcor

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News: Historic Rotherham house back on the market

The listed buildings on the Swinden House site in Rotherham have been put back up for sale as the site's owners concentrate on building new houses in the sought-after location.

Rothbiz reported last year that Doncaster-based Keepmoat had bought Tata Steel's Swinden Technology Centre (STC) for an undisclosed sum. The housebuilder went on to submit plans for 170 new dwellings on the Moorgate site.

With the 1940's laboratory buildings demolished, the historic buildings are set to be converted to 27 apartments and preserved as landmark buildings within the new development.

Now, commercial property agents, BNP Paribas Real Estate, is marketing parts of the site for sale. Four heritage buildings are listed for sale as a conversion opportunity but the asking price is undisclosed.

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The properties comprise of Swinden House, Sitwell House, Swinden House Stables and Swinden House Lodge.

Swinden House, the former home of Rotherham solicitor Thomas Badger, is a Grade II listed building. Previously known as "Red House" it was completed in around 1880. The stable block, walled garden and the lodge are also protected. Sitwell House, a late nineteenth century house is not a listed building.

United Steels acquired the site in 1946 and the facilities at STC were claimed to be, by the 1960s, one of the largest research organisations devoted to metallurgy in Europe.

Tata Steel considered that it is no longer a suitable home for the R&D arm and announced in 2014 a relocation to Warwick University.

The advert states: "Conversion opportunity to be delivered alongside Keepmoat Homes’ proposed development of 170 new build homes across the wider site, with planning application submitted."

The application is yet to be determined.

Images: BNP Paribas Real Estate / Keepmoat

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News: EEF take advantage in Rotherham

The Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF), the UK trade organisation dedicated to the future of manufacturing, has taken nearly 7,000 sq ft of office space in Rotherham.

The EEF offers business services, government representation and industry intelligence and around a quarter of the UK's manufacturing businesses are members and many more use its services to help them work.

The organisation has has leased 6,878 sq ft of office accommodation at Advantage House, Poplar Way, Catcliffe in a deal secured by BNP Paribas Real Estate.

EEF has secured the second floor, which comprises self-contained modern, high quality offices within close proximity of the M1 and on the doorstep of the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Stuart Waite, senior surveyor at BNP Paribas Real Estate, said: "Advantage House is located in a prominent position next to the Sheffield Parkway and in close proximity to the M1 motorway, which is one of the reasons why EEF chose this building. The deal itself is positive for the local market, as it is one of the largest deals to complete so far this year."

Newcastle-based JK Property Consultants acted for the EEF in buying its new Rotherham headquarters. JK was able to secure the second-floor offices at a rent of just under £9.50 per square foot before incentives are deducted. The deal allows EEF to move in rent-free for six months and then pay half-rent for the next 12 months during the initial four-year lease.

Andy Tuscher, North East Region director at EEF, said: "This move demonstrates our ongoing commitment to local and regional businesses and ensuring that they have easy access to advice and support.

"As the recovery picks up pace, they will probably need even more help tackling things such as HR issues, legal problems and health and safety concerns. We will now be even better-placed to provide this expertise."

Energy Alloys, the American oil field metals business which has its UK head office at Advantage House, has recently secured planning permission for alterations to the office space within its manufacturing and warehouse facility at Canklow, also in Rotherham. The site processes and holds long products for the energy, stainless and engineering markets and 36 employees are set to move to Canklow from across Rotherham.

EEF website
Energy Alloys website

Images: BNP Paribas Real Estate

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News: Four lettings at Hellaby Business Centre

Four lettings have been secured at Hellaby Business Centre in Rotherham, bringing in a combined workforce of over 100 people.

Following the administration of soft furnishing retailer Rosebys and the subsequent vacation of their head office at Hellaby Industrial Estate in Rotherham in 2008, Steinhoff UK Group Properties has transformed the property to create a modern and flexible business centre which they have appointed BNP Paribas Real Estate to market.

Employment consultants, Forefront Recruitment, clothing retailer Edinburgh Woollen Mill, IT systems consultants Sheffield Business Systems and information management and business process outsourcing providers Vangent Ltd have all signed up to take space.

In addition to securing the instruction to let the space BNP Paribas Real Estate will also manage the property on behalf of Steinhoff.

Nick Baker, associate director of Sheffield office agency at BNP Paribas Real Estate said: "Hellaby Business Centre is able to offer a variety of space solutions to occupiers on flexible terms and at competitive rents, which we believe when coupled with its highly accessible location will appeal to a wide range of businesses.

"The centre provides high quality, managed office suites for small and medium sized occupiers on an all inclusive basis and includes ample car parking facilities ensuring that there are no hidden extras to worry about."

BNP Paribas Real Estate website

Images: BNP Paribas Real Estate

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News: Irish toy retailer set for Cortonwood

Irish toy retailer, Smyths Toys are set to move into Cortonwood Retail Park in the Dearne Valley, Rotherham.

The deal was secured by BNP Paribas Real Estate on behalf of developers, St Pauls Developments and in conjuction with King Sturge.

In a pre-let deal the toy retailer has signed up to occupy a 15,000 sq ft unit, plus a mezzanine floor, which will form park of the retail park's fourth phase of development. Irish based Smyths operates across the UK and Ireland and specialises in supplying toys, bikes and video games for children of all ages, they currently have 26 stores.

Construction on the unit for the national toy retailer is expected to commence this summer, there are also an additional two units available adjacent to the new Smyths store totalling 7,500 sq ft and 8,500 sq ft.

The park is home to a number of national retailers including Morrisons, B&Q, Next, Matalan Asda Living, Halfords and SCS all of whom report their outlets at the park amongst their top trading stores.

Since the regeneration of the former Cortonwood Colliery site St Pauls Developments has developed over 2.6m sq ft of commercial space, 500,000 sq ft of retail stores and reclaimed and sold in excess of 100 acres of residential land across South Yorkshire.

Charles Hill, senior director of Leeds retail agency at BNP Paribas Real Estate said: "Since its opening Cortonwood has established itself as one of the region's prime out of town shopping locations.

"St Pauls Developments has succeeded in securing an excellent mix of tenants to meet the needs of the surrounding communities and the addition of Smyths will only enhance the park’s appeal further."

David Newton, managing director at St Pauls Developments added: "Cortonwood Retail Park was our first project; having started the regeneration of the site over 20 years ago and understandably we are delighted that we can extend the park further and attract a new influx of exciting occupiers."

St Paul's website
Smyths Toys website
Rotherham

Images: BNP Paribas Real Estate

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News: Simon Elvin Ltd choose Rotherham for distribution centre

Another property deal has been announced in Rotherham, the 11th already this year.

Acting on behalf of Praedia Investments, BNP Paribas Real Estate has let units 7 & 8 at Houndhill Park in the Dearne Valley, Rotherham to Simon Elvin Ltd.

The Buckinghamshire-based greeting cards publisher has taken the 60,000 sq ft unit to house their distribution operations in the North of England and they have agreed to lease the unit for five years at an undisclosed rent.

Houndhill Park is an established industrial location that provides immediate access to both the M1 and A1(M) Motorways. The units all benefit from excellent parking and loading facilities along with high quality office accommodation.

The park comprises 10 units constructed in 2001 and totalling 204,000 sq ft. It was purchased by Praedia Investments for a approximately £9.5m and is home to Inditherm and the South Yorkshire Data Centre.

Ashley Kerner, of Sheffield industrial agency at BNP Paribas Real Estate said: "Demand from this type of occupier has begun to increase, especially as businesses seek to upgrade their accommodation and make their operations more efficient."

Simon Elvin Ltd website
Rotherham

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