As an exemplar of the growth of the Cambridge sub-region, Lancaster Way Business Park in Ely is hard to beat. Year on year the story is one of continuous growth, with planning consent granted in 2011 for a further 100 acres of development land to be added to the existing 75-acre park.
To help support the continued development, the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP) agreed to provide the landowners and developers, Grovemere Property Ltd, with a Growing Places Fund loan worth £1 million to get the development underway as soon as possible.
The new premises will provide nine new business units for small and start-up businesses in the local area, and is estimated to create between 30 and 50 new jobs.
With work now starting on site, Grovemere Property Ltd invited the LEP Board onto site to mark the commencement of works on site by local contractor Barnack Estates UK Ltd.
Lancaster Way is now one of the most extensive business parks in the East of England and 2015 has been a landmark year with the completion of the park’s largest building – a new 80,000 sq ft HQ for Cambridge Commodities.
Now construction is ongoing at locations around the park, most recently with the initial development of Merlin Court in September; a speculative scheme of nine units with B1, B2, B8 and trade counter planning consent, which means they will be available for a very wide range of uses for businesses, from storage, to office, as trade counters, or light industrial.
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Neil Darwin, Chief Executive of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, said:
“Investing in economic growth is an important part of the work we do here at the LEP. By providing accessible loan financing to unlock the development of new business premises we are supporting the continued growth of our local economy, and in turn creating new jobs. Lancaster Way Business Park is a thriving site with potential to grow further, providing much needed space businesses need to relocate and grow.”
Harvey Bibby, Marketing and Development Director at Grovemere Property Ltd, explains the strategy behind this latest speculative development:
“We have a proud history of building long-term relationships with companies. From the time of their first occupation at Lancaster Way, often as fledgling businesses, we work closely with them, facilitating their growth and meeting their needs. This has proved a very successful approach – Cambridge Commodities first came here in 2003 to occupy just 6,500 sq. ft., for example and 12 years later they employ 90 staff, occupy 80,000 sq. ft. and have ambitious plans for further growth.”
Richard Designs, manufacturer of handmade bridal-wear accessories, is a good example of long-term commitment to the park. The company has been manufacturing on site for 23 years and this year secured planning consent for construction of a 12,000 sq ft bespoke facility on a prominent site close to the main entrance.
“We’re certainly benefiting from the sustained growth of Cambridge,” says Harvey. “We are so close by road and rail to Cambridge city, but can provide office, R&D, industrial and warehouse space at around half the cost. The plan for thousands of new homes for Ely is great news for the park – it makes the area more attractive to occupiers and will boost our talent pool.”
For companies who need immediate space, Unit 78 is available for occupation now. The building is a mix of warehouse, office, laboratory and clean room space totalling 37,000 sq. ft.
For full details, or to find out more about opportunities at Lancaster Way Business Park, contact Harvey Bibby on 01353 666 666, email [email protected].