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Embracing change

By Simon Toseland

Director

Prop-Search

BREXIT, unitary authorities, online retail, supply and demand, politics, taxation. All your new friends and all offering opportunity or challenge, depending on your approach to them.

While Wellingborough lags behind its neighbouring towns in terms of physical growth and evolution, it certainly doesn’t in terms of the opportunities it has at its feet, as long as patience and positivity is applied.

Wellingborough East – now badged Stanton Cross – is still to deliver its full vision. Work on infrastructure has commenced but the scale and cost of this remains challenging and ultimately restrictive in terms of speed of delivery. The end goal is to provide for 3,650 new homes, employment areas creating some 3,000 new jobs and shopping facilities, but this is some years off despite being 10 years in the making.

One scheme that has been quick off the market is Prologis Park Wellingborough West; a 110-acre development that has planning permission for a total of 2.15 million square feet. It has recently welcomed its first occupier, Yusen Logistics, which already has an existing facility in the town and will use the new 379,000 square foot facility to expand its UK supply chain logistics service. Wellingborough’s strategic location and Prologis’s delivery timeline, played a pivotal role in Yusen’s decision – in the process creating up to 2,500 new employment opportunities.

Investment into creating further new employment opportunities for the growing town and address some of the supply and demand imbalance, is being seen on the Leyland Trading Estate; popular location for a wide range of businesses. Having received funding from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) – following the Government’s announcement of the award of the £59 million Local Growth Fund (LGF) – the estate has received £1.26 million towards a £4.4 million project to develop SME industrial workspaces, creating 99 jobs and delivering economic growth.

Work has now started on the development, comprising a total of 42,420 square feet split into three separate blocks. Block 1 will total 22,240 square feet with the capability to be divided into three individual units, while Block 2 will offer 12,490 square feet and Block 3 7,690 square feet. Individual unit sizes range from 550 square feet up to 9,000 square feet. Pre-lets are currently being sought.

Further new jobs, including opportunities for apprentices, have also recently been created in the town as one of the county’s most reputable commercial vehicle businesses has expanded its specialist bespoke body building division. Kurt Hobbs Coachworks has just taken possession of an 11,000 square feet factory premises adjacent to the A45 at Little Irchester; a move which has released space at its existing complex in Great Addington. This will facilitate growth in its new builds – building new commercial bodies to suit individual customer needs.

Out of the six influences listed at the start of this article, probably the most influential is the possible dissolution of Northamptonshire County Council – following its effective bankruptcy – to a unitary form of local government. This could see Wellingborough, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Corby combined as one with Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire as another – so two authorities for Northamptonshire – with Commissioners in place to ensure best practice. The current membership of some 100 plus County Councillors could be culled, with those not chosen perhaps looking to take positions within new town councils.

So, with the current uncertainly facing Northamptonshire’s Councils – in whatever new guise – the UK leaving the EU at 11pm on Friday 29 March 2019, who knows what will happen in the world over this timeline; US President impeachment, Cold War, EU collapse or Lewis Hamilton equalling Schumacher’s world title haul? Whatever is in store for us, it looks like being an interesting ride.

Further information or advice can be obtained from Prop-Search on 01933 223300 or 01604 492000 or at the website www.prop-search.com

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