Works are now well under way at Ashroyd Business Park on behalf of developers Ackroyd and Abbott. This is the second of three developments located within 1.5 miles of M1 Junction 36, marketed as ‘Sector 36 Business Parks’.

(From left to right) Ian Kilner and Gordon Wilson of VHE, Tony Parker of Ackroyd and Abbott, Alex Gibson of WM Saunders Partnership, Rob Oliver of GVA Grimley and Richard Nutter of BDA, on site at Ashroyd Business Park

The £2.5m site preparation contract is being carried out by VHE who are currently earth moving. When earth moving ceases in a few more weeks, sub contractors will bring on additional workers involved in provision of drainage and other essential services. Yorkshire based firm VHE was set up 30 years ago in Barnsley and have been heavily involved in the redevelopment of Barnsley and South Yorkshire. 50% of their current workforce on site at Ashroyd are from the local area.

At the present rate of progress, from November this year, the 16 hectare business park will offer a fully serviced site capable of meeting the needs of high growth business sectors and capable of accommodating 650,000 sq ft of business floorspace and some 800 permanent jobs, an ultimate investment of some £34m.

Individual high quality business premises will include units of 50,000 sq.ft. up to 200,000 sq.ft. as well as some smaller offices. To kick start the business park, a first unit of 50,000 sq.ft. will be built on a speculative basis, to be ready by Summer 2006.

The European Union is investing £2.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the development of Ashroyd Business Park as part of the Objective 1 Programme in South Yorkshire. Tony Parker, Development Director of Ackroyd & Abbott Ltd said, “We are delighted that following assistance from Renaissance South Yorkshire and Barnsley Development Agency in obtaining European investment in the project, work at Ashroyd Business Park is now proceeding apace. This is exceptionally good news for Barnsley and South Yorkshire.”

Joint property agents GVA Grimley and Crossland Otter Hunt will be marketing agents for the site. Rob Oliver of GVA Grimley adds, “With its proximity to the M1 and the Dearne Valley Parkway, unit sizes available from 50,000 sq.ft. up to 200,000 sq.ft., and our ability to offer units on both a freehold or leasehold basis, I have no doubt that Ashroyd Business Park will be a successful development for our clients, and for the Barnsley area as a whole.”

Richard Nutter of Barnsley Development Agency concludes, “The sector 36 Business Parks form an important part of the overall regeneration strategy for
the M1 Strategic Economic Zone, which will bring new job opportunities and stimulate inward investment. We look forward to welcoming new companies to the Ashroyd site soon and will continue to work with partners in the public, private and community sectors to make sure local people are given every chance to compete for jobs as they arise.”