Member Article

1,600 new jobs to be created at Humber Enterprise Park

The pioneering 79-acre Humber Enterprise Park in Brough, East Yorkshire, was launched this week by LC Industrial, the strategic partnership between Lumina Real Estate Capital (LREC) and Leeds-based business space specialist Citivale,

The park includes circa 1 million sq ft of high-quality office and industrial space, 20 acres of development land and benefits from Enterprise Zone and Assisted Area Status which offers significant incentives to attract new occupiers.

The park was launched this week at a special opening ceremony attended by councillors and officers from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, property agents and representatives from the media.

So far £2.5 million has been spent on regenerating the whole site, described as “a jewel in the Humber’s crown” with another £4.5 million earmarked for further improvements.

It is estimated that 1,600 new and sustainable jobs will be created when the park is fully developed during the next five years.

Already a number of deals have taken place at the Enterprise Park, which was acquired from BAE Systems in a multi-million pound transaction.

James Appleton-Metcalfe, Managing Director of Citivale, explained: “It gives us immense pleasure to officially launch the Humber Enterprise Park. We are exceptionally excited about this unique development, which will create a new thriving business community with breath-taking views on the banks of the Humber.

Jeff Carson of Lumina added: “We believe that our competitive rents and unrivalled working environment will prove attractive to a whole raft of different occupiers. For example, a company moving here, and taking 5,000 sq ft of space, could save over £500,000 over a five-year period compared with other office developments in the area.

“We are keenly aware that our park should not just be a place to work, but also a proper community where to life can be enjoyed. The development is people-centric – and not solely commercially-driven.

“So we are creating a running track on the perimeter of the site; a heritage museum, paying tribute to the rich history of aircraft manufacturing here; green spaces and allotments; break-out areas, a food hall and spaces for art; as well as a fitness suite,” he said.

Mr Appleton-Metcalfe explained that LC Industrial’s expertise lay in buying secondary assets and using their combined skills and knowledge to reposition them through comprehensive refurbishment and development. This is what will be done at the Enterprise Park.

“With Lumina’s backing and strategic advice, we are confident will see the business park develop into one of the prime office and industrial locations within the Hull and East Riding region,” he said. “It has the potential to become an economic powerhouse, attracting all sizes of companies from incubators and start-ups to stand-alone facilities for more established organisations. It will be a jewel in the Humber’s crown”.

“We have already agreed a number of deals, which are ringing endorsements of the development. They include a 12-month letting to Howdens Joinery to lease the 175,000 sq ft B Shed; a 10-year lease of 8,500 sq ft to Rex Rob Engineering; the sale of the White Car Park to Humber Fire and Rescue; a lease re-gear for Brough Business Centre to include a further 50 car parking spaces; and a new 6-year letting to Eco Engineering Installations.

“BAE Systems has also signed new leases on its 555,000 sq ft premises at the site, which is 40 per cent of all the built space on the park,” he added.

The five office buildings, named Hawk, Firebrand, Mercury, Buccaneer and Bluebird after aircraft which were built on the site, range from 4,582 sq ft to 18,090 sq ft. They will be ready for occupation in April next year.

Paul Bell, head of Economic Development for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, who attended the launch, said: “This is an exceptionally exciting development, which will provide a tremendous boost to the area’s economy with the creation of sustainable jobs. The care, commitment and attention to detail shown by the developers is exemplary and we look forward to watching the successful regeneration of this site over the coming years.

The marketing agents for the Humber Enterprise Park are Commercial Property Partners (CPP) of Sheffield, JLL of Leeds and PPH of Hull.

Toby Vernon of CPP commented: “Lumina Real Estate Capital & Citivale have a very clear and attractive vision for the Humber Enterprise Park, which will put Brough back on the map again. Apart from the first-class facilities on site, the well-located park is close to Brough Station, with trains running directly to London, and minutes away from the M62. The interest in the site, for both the offices and the industrial units, has already been extremely encouraging.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .