News: Historic Rotherham building acquired

A former department store in Rotherham town centre has been acquired by its tenants.

Rothbiz reported last year that a prominent Grade II listed building in Rotherham town centre had gone up for sale, offering a redevelopment opportunity between the award-winning High Street and Rotherham Minster.

Rotherham Rise,  the local charity organisation that offers support for victims and survivors of abuse, has completed the purchase of the Grade II listed building that it already occupied together with other tenants.

The building, known by many as the former Speeds department store, is to be renamed Rise House and provides 1,000 sq ft of office and retail space. Rotherham Rise uses about two-thirds of the accommodation and will now receive rent from the tenants of the other offices, thereby providing a new income stream. Rise is redeveloping the ground floor retail area as a café, which is scheduled to open by the end of November.

Sue Wynne, chief executive of Rotherham Rise, said: "The market for rented offices in Rotherham does not favour not-for-profit organisations like us. We have had to move premises several times in the last 10 years and it has been expensive and disruptive. We have been wanting to buy somewhere for a while now so that our working environment is stable and sustainable."

Rise had been planning the purchase of a building and saw an opportunity at the High St premises when they moved in as tenants at the end of 2018. They then started to look at options of how to achieve this, gaining impetus in their efforts following participation in an E3M Alchemy event hosted by RMBC, and facilitated by Social Business International Ltd. Key Fund, Co-op Loan Fund, and Co-operative & Community Finance collaborating on a package of long-term loans made the purchase possible.

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The Co-op Foundation has provided grant and loan finance for the fitting out of the café.

Ian Rothwell, investment manager of Co-operative & Community Finance, which manages Co-op Loan Fund, said: "It is great that we were able to help such a worthwhile organisation to secure its accommodation and improve its sustainability. This is also a good example of responsible finance organisations working together to provide appropriate lending that makes a big difference to those providing support to vulnerable people."

Andy Croft, Investment Manager of Key Fund, said: "We are delighted to be able to play a role in this exciting development that will enable Rotherham Rise to increase their impact over the coming years. They deliver essential services to people in need and are exactly the kind of organisation that we want to support."

Jonathan Bland, managing director, Social Business International and founder of E3M said: "I am really delighted that the contacts made at the E3M Rotherham Alchemy event led to Rotherham Rise finding social investors and that they have now been able to buy their high street building. This is exactly the kind of social venture that should be getting investment to grow and I am sure this will enhance the much-needed services for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual exploitation."

As a result of the purchase and the new income from tenants and the cafe, Rise said that it will be in a stronger financial position and it will not have to worry about moving premises again. This leaves the organisation free to concentrate on providing its comprehensive range of services that include refuge accommodation, support services, therapeutic services, pathway services, and training in domestic abuse awareness.

Rotherham Rise was established in 1976. Today it has over 25 employees.

Sue Wynne added: "Over the last four years there has been a very significant increase in the demand for our services. This is a good thing because it shows a greater awareness of domestic abuse and a willingness to report it. There has been a big leap in self-referrals. It has been a challenge for us to keep pace with demand.

"Our main focus has been to ensure that people in need of our support do not have to wait too long. Looking ahead, we are developing more pathways to our services that support people throughout the journey from victim to survivor."

Rotherham Rise website

Images: Avison Young

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News: Plans in for historic Rotherham bank building

Cheque out these new plans for a former bank building in Rotherham town centre.

A planning application submitted to Rotherham Council indicates that the former RBS branch at the foot of the historic High Street has a new owner and proposals are coming forward for its reuse.

The freehold went up for sale with agents, Avison Young, at the start of 2019 with offers initially being invited in the region of £425,000. The price was recently reduced to £300,000 and is now off the market.

The application is for a change of use of part of ground floor from financial and professional services (A2) so that it can be used as a café or restaurant (A3).

Plans show how the former banking hall of around 2,500 sq ft could accommodate the new use.

The documents, from applicant, Zayan Developments, state that: "It is not possible at this stage to give detailed information since the Change of Use is generic until the applicant has secured a tenant."

"The assets are redundant, in poor repair and not in keeping with the quality of the main building.

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"The site is within a Conservation Area and the current position is that the building is vacant. The works will enhance the setting of the listed building. In future the applicant is to apply to change the use of the building into apartments and this will bring life into the town centre."

Rothbiz reported last year that the branch was one of 162 branch closures announced by the taxpayer-backed RBS Group after it decided that NatWest should become its primary customer facing brand in England and Wales, and Royal Bank of Scotland its core brand in Scotland.

1 - 9 High Street has its history in the Sheffield & Rotherham Joint Stock Banking Co Ltd which was a past constituent of RBS. The bank was established in 1792 by famous Rotherham steelmakers, the Walker brothers; along with Vincent Eyre, agent of the Duke of Norfolk (the principal landowner in the area); and William Stanley, a local businessman described as a "gentleman well-known and much respected at Rotherham."

The Grade II listed building was built in 1892 possibly on the site of the "OLD BANK / FOUNDED 1792" as the sign above the doorway reads. The impressive building is notable for its polished granite columns.

Images: Avison Young

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News: Rotherham's "Old Bank" up for sale

A big balance is required for anyone willing to take on a bank job in Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported last year that the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) branch was one of 162 branch closures announced by the taxpayer-backed group after it decided that NatWest should become its primary customer facing brand in England and Wales, and Royal Bank of Scotland its core brand in Scotland.

The group, which has also recently closed its Swallownest and Wickersley branches, vacated the town centre in November.

Now, agents at Avison Young (the real estate company formerly known as GVA) have been drafted in to sell the prominent 11,324 sq ft property.

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The property at the foot of the High Street extends over basement (complete with strongroom), ground, first and second floors and comes with ten parking spaces at the rear.

With the freehold up for sale, offers are being invited in the region of £425,000.

The agents believe that the premises are suitable for A3 planning uses (Cafes and Restaurants) and A4 (Drinking Establishments), subject to securing planning permission.

1 - 9 High Street has its history in the Sheffield & Rotherham Joint Stock Banking Co Ltd which was a past constituent of RBS. The bank was established in 1792 by famous Rotherham steelmakers, the Walker brothers; along with Vincent Eyre, agent of the Duke of Norfolk (the principal landowner in the area); and William Stanley, a local businessman described as a "gentleman well-known and much respected at Rotherham."

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The bank renamed Walkers & Stanley in 1829 and in 1836 the business was sold for £27,000 to a new joint-stock company, Sheffield & Rotherham Joint Stock Banking Co. The bank grew rapidly but the business was not without problems. Major accounting deficiencies were discovered during the 1840s and bad debts soared during the local commercial depression of the late 1870s.

In 1907, with a paid-up capital of £256,000, the bank was acquired by Williams Deacon's Bank Ltd of London and Manchester. This was later acquired by RBS.

The Grade II listed building was built in 1892 possibly on the site of the "OLD BANK / FOUNDED 1792" as the sign above the doorway reads. The impressive building is notable for its polished granite columns.

Images: Avison Young

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News: Café plan for historic high street building

A former department store could be set for a new lease of life under new plans to open a café / bar on Rotherham's historic high street.

Rothbiz reported in January that a prominent Grade II listed building in Rotherham town centre had gone up for sale, offering a redevelopment opportunity between the award-winning High Street and Rotherham Minster.

Now plans have been submitted that would allow part of the former John Speeds department store to be used as a community café / bar.

The 11,500 sq ft property is being advertised for sale with real estate firm, GVA and includes 18 High Street and 15 Vicarage Lane. No asking price was provided for the freehold of the property which includes retail space with offices above. It is being promoted as having redevelopment potential.

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The latest plans are for the 17,000 sq ft ground floor of 18 High Street which has remained vacant since the closure of Phoenix Enterprises.

The plans state: "We are proposing a community café / bar use. The café will be open in the day time serving hot and cold light snack/food options to the public, we will provide internet /computer access and offer a range of community groups. We propose to open some evenings as a social space and for events, we propose to serve alcohol of an evening."

An outside seating area for the café is also planned.

If plans are approved, one full time and five part time jobs could be created.

The applicant is Sue Wynne, CEO of Rotherham Rise, the local charity organisation that offers support for victims and survivors of abuse.

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A number of properties in the area, such as the former Muntus department store on the High Street and the Georgian town house opposite, have been renovated with retail space below new housing. The area was part of the £5m Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) scheme.

The former Speeds Department Store occupied four buildings which were knocked together to form one store but were subsequently divided again to form retail units fronting both Vicarage Lane and High Street.

It was redeveloped around ten years ago when plans were approved for the ground floor of the former Rumbelows building to be converted and occupied by Phoenix Enterprises who provided delivery of a variety of programmes and initiatives to help disadvantaged groups back into employment.

The ground floor area of the building fronting the All Saints Church, formerly operated by Whitegates and the Factory Shop, was used as a recruitment agency office and also includes a community hall.

The first and second floors of the building have been used predominantly for office use.

15 Vicarage Lane is described as a fine, early nineteenth century former townhouse and is Grade II listed. It has pride of place next to the church and the revamped public space. The building is on the site of the old vicarage and excavations in the area revealed medieval deposits.

Images: GVA

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News: New Rotherham cinema in focus

Good news for film fans - and potential investors, developers and operators - there is enough demand for an 11 screen cinema in the borough, if Rotherham cinema goers can be persuaded to stay in the town to watch films in the future, rather than head to Sheffield.

A detailed study into the leisure sector in Sheffield and Rotherham has been carried out by experts at Bilfinger GVA - the largest independent commercial property agency in the UK. The consultants have used a number of surveys and studies to analyse the industry in the area and provide an assessment for the local authorities on future needs and the potential market share.

It is over 25 years since Rotherham had a cinema. Cannon, the last town centre cinema, closed in 1990.

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Rotherham Council has long had ambitions for a new leisure development in the town, anchored by a cinema. Earlier this year, the authority finalised a land deal with Tesco for Forge Island where the key site and surrounding land could deliver a 25,000 sq ft cinema, 20,000 sq ft hotel and 6,000 sq ft of restaurants and bars. It has an estimated project value of £43.5m.

Demolition of the vacant Tesco store is underway and "soft marketing testing" of both operators and developers has been undertaken with RiDO currently working with property agents, Lambert Smith Hampton.

The Council will use the findings from the recent study as it continues to talk with investors and cinema operators. A new masterplan, which is set to emphasise the importance of leisure uses in revitalising the town, is due next month.

The study highlights that Sheffield's cinemas attract at least 75% of visits from each of the zones covering the Rotherham MBC administrative area and over half of all cinema visits from the Barnsley area. Not surprising given that Sheffield has nearly 60 screens, Rotherham has none, and Barnsley has two.

A sensitivity test was carried out with an increased market share for Rotherham in future years.

The study states: "In our opinion, these substantial levels of leakage can be minimised if new multi-screen cinema facilities can be provided in these towns. Indeed, we are aware that there are plans for a new cinema in Barnsley and also a new facility in Wakefield.

"An example of how new multi-screen cinema facilities can minimise leakage is in Chesterfield, which is slightly further away from Sheffield than Rotherham but a similar distance as Barnsley. Only 18% of cinema visits from the Chesterfield area flow to Sheffield, which is due to the attraction of the Cineworld cinema which has 10 screens. This indicates that the availability of several different screens, capable of showing several different films, is a key factor in retaining trips."

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The study concludes that the ability to retain trips in the Rotherham area "will create a level of capacity which is able to support a new local cinema." It adds that if a new cinema facility in Rotherham is able to retain 80% of cinema trips from within the borough, there will be a demand for up to 11 screens.

Currently, Rotherham residents are likely to go to Centertainment and Meadowhall in Sheffield for their cinema-going trips.

Rotherham Council is objecting to a planning application for a £300m Leisure Hall at Meadowhall, stating that it is likely to have a significant adverse impact on Rotherham town centre and the planned investment in the Forge Island site.

Images: VUE

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News: Signs of speculative development at Magna 34

Plans for further commercial units in Rotherham have been submitted, signalling a return of speculative development at Templeborough.

The first phase of works at the £31m Magna 34 Business Park were completed in 2008 where Sheffield-based joint venture partners, Loxley Land and Property and Jaguar Estates, predicted it would eventually create around 600 jobs for the region.

The 19 acre park located off Junction 34 of the M1 is on the historic site of the former steelworks and before that, a Roman fort. 10,000 sq ft of office and industrial space is home to the likes of HS Atec, Grayson Fixings and Sortec Software Development. The massive 152,421 sq ft distribution unit, empty since completion in 2008 was taken by Parcelforce in 2014 and later bought by LondonMetric Property Plc in a £10.3m deal.

Now a planning application has been submitted to enable new commercial units to come forward on remaining plots at the site.

Having gained planning approval in 2007, the site benefits from further consent for 40,000 sq ft of industrial use and 10,000 sq ft of office use. However, the current proposals are to replace previously proposed uses on the northern part of the site, with around 26,000 sq ft of industrial use.

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The speculative development will be eligible for B1(c) light industrial, B2 general industrial & B8 storage or distribution and at this stage it is not known who the end users of the different units will be or indeed how many staff will be employed.

The plans, drawn up by Self Architects, show an indicative layout of two buildings which could be subdivided into four units immediately to the west of the first phase, with three buildings to the north between the first phase and RiDO's Fusion business centre, which have the potential to be split into nine units.

The development plots at Magna 34 are allocated within the Sheffield Enterprise Zone, which offers business rates relief worth up to £275,000 to a business over a five-year period.

With GVA and Knight Frank as agents, units have been available on a pre-let or pre-sale basis with consideration given to land sales.

At nearby Tinsley, Rotherham-based developer, E V Waddington Ltd, specialist in brownfield development, continues to successfully bring speculative developments to the market at the completed Vantage Park.

In 2004, Euro Dismantling Services and developer Jaguar Estates were appointed by Corus (now Tata Steel) as joint developers for the former Mayer Parry and Rolling Mills sites on Sheffield Road in Templeborough, Rotherham.

EDS undertook large scale decontamination, groundworks break out and land remediation to create development plots on the sites and following remediation, EDS established Loxley Land and Property to take the schemes forward.

EDS encountered financial problems in 2013 and the decontamination, access & insulation and nuclear trading divisions were acquired by OCS in 2014.

Jaguar Estates website
Loxley Land and Property website

Images: Loxley Land and Property

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News: Harworth acquires £2m Parkway office block

Harworth Estates has acquired Sanderson House near to its flagship Waverley development in Rotherham for £2.2m.

A specialist in brownfield regeneration, Harworth Estates, which is based at Waverley, is one of the largest property and regeneration companies working in the North of England and the Midlands. Its extensive portfolio consists of a total of 27,000 acres across 200 sites. It is wholly owned by Harworth Group plc which was created through the complex restructure of what was UK Coal.

Sanderson House is home to IT Software and Solutions business, Sanderson and sits alongside Advantage House, the home of offices for Energy Alloys and The Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF). Opposite the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) it is located within the emerging Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), which is backed by Harworth in partnership with the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Business Park, Sheffield Council and Rotherham Council.

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Harworth's purchase of Sanderson House, which represents a net initial yield of 13.3%, is its second acquisition of an income-producing investment property over the past year, following the purchase of Sinfin Lane Industrial Estate in Derby for £6.95m in September 2015. Harworth's investment portfolio now totals 1 million sq ft in the Midlands, Yorkshire and north east of England.

Dave Travis, associate director of business space at Harworth Estates, said: "Sanderson House represents a solid acquisition in an area we are already heavily investing in through our Waverley development.

"We will continue to focus on improving the recurring income base of our business and we will aim to make further acquisitions where appropriate."

Harworth's property advisers on the deal were Bilfinger GVA and Knight Frank. Hlw Keeble Hawson provided legal advice.

Barry Riley, associate at Bilfinger GVA, said: "Harworth has unprecedented knowledge of the local market and Sanderson House has great potential. Harworth's excellent track record and ability to purchase the building quickly helped secure the purchase off-market."

Richard Smith, partner at hlw Keeble Hawson's Sheffield office, added: "Over the past six years hlw Keeble Hawson has been pleased to represent Harworth in a series of high-profile deals – including the purchase of Sinfin Lane Industrial Estate – as it continues to develop its powerful property portfolio. The latest purchase of Sanderson House also enhances the wider vision to attract both global and local businesses to the emerging and vibrant Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District."

For the year to the end of December, Harworth Group posted pre-tax profits of £77.6m - up from £3.5m in the previous year. The figure includes the £44.2m gain arising from the successful acquisition of the remaining 75.1% of Harworth Estates Property Group Limited.

On an underlying basis, operating profit increased to £2.1m from £0.8m in 2014. The group said that the gains in value from disposals and revaluation significantly exceeded expectations with total value gains from disposals of £40.4m, nearly double the £23.6m of the previous year. This resulted in an operating profit, before exceptional items, of £42.6m (2014: £24.4m).

The net assets at the year-end were valued at £297.7m, an increase of £47.4m on a like for like basis from the previous year. The group expects an acceleration of sales and investment in the portfolio, with further acquisitions expected from 2016 onwards.

Harworth Estates website

Images: Google Maps

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News: GVA takes on property portfolio

GVA, the UK's largest independent commercial property consultancy, has been appointed to market a portfolio of more than 20 assets.

On the instructions of LPA Receivers (usually appointed by banks and private lenders when the terms of the mortgage are not being met), the Yorkshire office of GVA is marketing a portfolio which includes a number of Rotherham properties.

These include The Temperance Hall on Wellgate, The Prince of Wales Feathers pub on Sheffield Road, The Crofts mixed-use site in Rotherham town centre and an industrial estate in Mexborough.

The 3,416 sq ft Temperance Hall is one of a number of the properties set to go under the hammer with Mark Jenkinson & Son Auctioneers later this month. With three units currently let at £10,621 per annum, the property has a guide price of £125,000.

Previously a Methodist chapel, it became the Temperance Hall in 1895, home to the Temperance Society who advocated a moderate approach to life and warned against excessive alcohol consumption.

James France, surveyor in GVA's valuation services team in Yorkshire, said he expected there to be plenty of interest in the portfolio.

Mr France said: "This is a high profile instruction for GVA and we are delighted to have been instructed.

"It is not often that a portfolio of this quality comes onto the market so we are expecting high levels of interest.

"Much of the portfolio is tenanted and generates healthy levels of income. The assets are being offered as single lots or as a whole."

The portfolio has a gross income of £613,384 and is being marketed without a guide price. It also incldes the freehold of iconic Sheffield live music venue, The Leadmill.

GVA website
Mark Jenkinson & Son website

Images: Mark Jenkinson & Son

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News: Principal Building Products acquire new £1m Rotherham premises

Principal Building Products, a growing distributor of building materials and building products, has acquired new premises on the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate in Rotherham.

Acting on behalf of Enodis, GVA has advised on the sale of Sceptre Point, a 50,900 sq ft warehouse unit fronting Mangham Road in a deal worth £1.075m.

Currently based at nearby Parkgate, the acquisition of the former Magnet Limited premises will help Principal Building Products facilitate its planned expansion. Plans have already been approved to increase the office space within the unit that will be home to around 28 staff.

Rob Oliver, director at GVA's Leeds office, who brokered the deal, said: "Over the last few years, we have found Rotherham to be one of the more resilient and active markets in our area for industrial premises and we were pleased with the interest in this unit.

"Our client had a leasehold interest in this unit, but most enquiries were for the freehold. With the landlord willing to sell, we were able to agree a lease surrender and freehold sale, which worked for all three parties."

GVA and Crossland Otter Hunt were joint marketing agents for Enodis.

Principal Building Products website
GVA website

Images: GVA

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News: S2S open new head office in Rotherham

The new 45,000 sq ft unit for S2S Electronics in Rotherham will be the electronics manufacturer's new head office following relocation from Sheffield to Manvers after consolidating with its Huddersfield branch.

With around four times the space the company previously had, it allows S2S Electronics to expand the manufacturing, secure storage and asset recovery business to meet customer demand. Over £100,000 has been invested in the new facility on Brookfields Park tailoring it to fit exactly with the company's requirements.

S2S Electronics is one of the leading players in electronics manufacturing, asset recovery and electronics recycling. The new unit will be used for the manufacture of circuit boards and associated products for the rail and power generation industries plus asset recovery, secure destruction and the recycling and refurbishing of old electronic equipment including computers and mobile phones.

Enhancements to security, fume extraction, compressed air, a new screen printer for the surface mount line and a new flow solder machine with automatic spray flux capability as well as refurbishing the reception and offices areas have all added to improve the facility.

The deal was confirmed last month and the company has taken a ten-year lease, brokered by the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, on a stepped rental on Unit B at Brookfields Park. S2S were represented by Iain McPhail of GVA.

The move to the Dearne Valley was supported by RiDO, Rotherham Investment and Development Office, and has meant bringing 40 existing jobs to the area initially. S2S Electronics are in the process of identifying new roles within the company through continued growth.

Alan Dukinfield, managing director at S2S said: "We envisage that our workforce will grow to around 50 in the coming months, Dearne Valley is such a vibrant area at the moment we feel that we can recruit and fill these positions from the local communities.

"These new premises has given us a new "shop window" for us to greet customers and actively demonstrate our commitment to investment and growth.

"Just by way of introduction to the area we already have an open day planned for the early summer where customers, suppliers and local business will be invited to see the new premises and get a feel for the services on offer.

"When considering consolidating our sites into one from our two previous locations and choosing the location for our head office it was absolutely essential to pick the right area and the right building to promote our business.

"Brookfields Park was the perfect fit, a vibrant area being quite central for most staff from both locations and in a prime industrial location in the Dearne Valley."

Tim O' Connell, from RiDO, said: "It's great to be bringing another successful Yorkshire company into Rotherham and helping boost the local jobs market yet again.

"S2S Electronics' were impressed by what they saw at Brookfields Park and felt it was the right location supported by a potential local workforce with the right skills to meet their needs and we were delighted to be able to help them re-locate here."

Rebecca Schofield, partner at Knight Frank, added: "Historically there has been a large amount of stock in the Dearne Valley. But as stock has depleted from the prime M1 corridor locations, there has been a reasonable level of take up in recent months. S2S join ABS and Gala Tent who have also recently moved to the area, acquiring 80,000 sq ft and 52,000 sq ft respectively.

"It remains a tenants' market and competitive terms are being offered to secure new businesses as a result."

S2S Electronics website

Rotherham Investment and Development Office

Images: S2S Electronics / Knight Frank

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News: S2S Electronics acquire new home in Rotherham

Electronics manufacturer, S2S Electronics has taken a 45,000 sq ft unit in Rotherham that will be home to around 50 staff and will allow the business to grow.

The deal for Unit B at Brookfield's Park in Manvers was completed by GVA, the UK's largest independent commercial property advisor.

Huddersfield's S2S Electronics is one of the leading players in electronics manufacturing, asset recovery and electronics recycling.

The new unit will be used for the manufacture of circuit boards and associated products plus the recycling and refurbishing of old electronic equipment including computers and mobile phones.

Iain McPhail, associate in GVA's Yorkshire industrial agency team, said: "We are delighted to have secured a new long term home for S2S, which will allow the business to grow for the foreseeable future.

"Through our expert knowledge of the local and regional industrial market, we identified a number of suitable options and successfully negotiated a new lease on favourable terms for our client."

Planning permission was secured last year to change the use of the building that was previously occupied by Scorpion Bathrooms.

S2S Electronics website

Images: s2s.uk.com / GVA

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News: Hellaby units come onto the market

Two modern industrial units on Hellaby Industrial Estate in Rotherham have become available for new occupiers.

The Interchange Industrial Estate units were formally occupied by UK Mail Group PLC and Riso and are 18,000 sq ft and 21,000 sq ft. They benefit from 6-7m eaves, office accommodation, and heating and lighting in the warehouse area.

The estate is popular with occupiers, due to its proximity to Junction 1 of the M18, which provides excellent accessibility. Occupiers include Stanley Tools, Greenberg Glass and Glazing, RJD Engineering, Parseq plc and TNT.

The two units have recently been acquired by St Modwen, who own a number of industrial estates in the area.

Ben Mitchell, from St Modwen said: "These units are in an excellent location just off junction 1 of the M18 and provide good quality industrial space at very competitive rents."

St Modwen acquired the properties in September when they purchased the ETP portfolio of 11 income-producing employment sites for £21.4m from Citi Property Investors, on behalf of EIRE The Peaks Limited.

Marketing agents for St Modwen are GVA and Knight Frank.

GVA website

Images: gva.co.uk

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News: UK Mail relocate in Rotherham

The UK's largest independent parcels, mail and logistics services company, UK Mail Group PLC, has relocated across Rotherham to the Magna 34 Business Park in Templeborough.

UK Mail has relocated their South Yorkshire operation from Hellaby and has signed a ten year lease for a brand new 27,232sq ft industrial unit at the development by Jaguar Estates and Loxley Land and Property.

GVA and Knight Frank represented the developers and UK Mail Group PLC was unrepresented. Terms of the deal were undisclosed.

With a national network of more than 50 sites and 3,500 vehicles, UK Mail Group handles around three billion items from over 2,000 customers every year, constituting 17 per cent of all addressed mail within the UK and making it the busiest alternative to Royal Mail.

Paul Hutchinson, Property Manager for UK Mail Group PLC, said: "We now have around 80 employees in our South Yorkshire operation and had outgrown our existing facility.

"Due to the nature of our business, we need quick and direct connectivity to the motorways and the ability to access multiple routes should one be affected by traffic. Magna 34 provides this in addition to offering the flexibility to tailor and fit-out the unit to our exact specifications.

"We look forward to continuing to provide an excellent service to our broad customer base which extends across Sheffield and Doncaster."

Rebecca Schofield, Associate at Knight Frank's Sheffield office added: "UK Mail Group PLC conducted an extensive search for a new facility and due to their delivery requirements, accessibility to all motorway networks was a primary factor. Magna 34 stood out in terms of both location and quality of the facility itself as the natural choice."

UK Mail Group's unit is the largest of eight industrial units which were completed as part of Phase 1 of the scheme, of which just one unit of 6,200sq ft now remains available for occupancy. A total of 10,000sq ft of BREEAM "Good" rated office space was also developed over two buildings, the first of which is fully occupied whilst the second has secured lettings to three national organisations since fit-out was completed last year. A limited number of serviced office suites which can accommodate between 2 and 15 people are available.

Additionally in Phase 1, the development partners teamed up with JF Finnegan to deliver a 151,716sq ft distribution unit for which interest is being invited.

Patrick Herbert of Jaguar Estates said: "With just one small and one large industrial unit left and limited office availability, Phase 1 has been an incredible success and we will now be looking ahead to Phase 2."

Plans for Phase 2 of Magna 34 include design and build opportunities for office accommodation from 2,000sq ft to 20,000sq ft and industrial units from 2,500sq ft up to 40,000sq ft.

UK Mail website
Magna 34 website

Images: Jaguar Estates

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