Skip to main content

Chase Commercial breaks ground for SMEs at Ratio:Park Kidderminster

Chase Commercial breaks ground for SMEs at Ratio:Park Kidderminster
Thursday 13 October 2016

Chase Commercial breaks ground for SMEs at Ratio:Park Kidderminster

Back to News
Thursday 13 October 2016

Chase Commercial breaks ground for SMEs at Ratio:Park Kidderminster

Property

  • Developers kick start work on 30,000 sq ft light industrial site
  • Range of units set to provide flexible space for small businesses
  • Ratio:Park supports plans to improve employment, regeneration and business activity in the area

Work has begun to deliver 30,000 sq ft of industrial workshops, warehouses and offices for small businesses in Kidderminster.

Ratio:Park, part of Finepoint in the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park, will offer 22 units between 960 sq ft and 4,500 sq ft and business owners have the option to purchase or let the plots. Warwickshire-based developer Chase Commercial Ltd has appointed Colonnade Construction Ltd to deliver the first phase of 11 units, set to be complete by spring 2017.

The Enterprise Park is a key employment and regeneration area for Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC). Following the introduction of a Local Development Order to simplify planning and improve business activity, it has seen the delivery of a new education facility ContinU Plus Academy; a new warehouse and manufacturing hub for Oakleaf Commercial Services – part of the Community Housing Group – and new purpose-built offices for WFDC.

Those based at the park will also benefit from its connectivity through the close by M5/M42 and the recent opening of the congestion-relieving Hoobrook Link Road.

Julian Meredith, Director of Chase Commercial, said:

“We have a track record for delivering high quality, flexible unit sizes and tenure for SMEs that need a quality location. This collaboration between Chase and Colonnade follows the successful delivery of a similar development in Evesham. Ratio:Park will further strengthen this relationship and will see us provide the kind of scheme that Kidderminster has been crying out for.”

Finance Birmingham has arranged development finance to support the project through the Growing Places Fund, managed on behalf of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP).

Nick Oakley, Senior Investment Director at Finance Birmingham, said:

“Ratio:Park is a prime example of a site that will support the work of the local authority to deliver on employment and regeneration, as well as one that will encourage the growth of enterprise in the Kidderminster area. Finance Birmingham is delighted to be supporting Chase Commercial in the speculative development of this light industrial scheme. The location is excellent and these units will provide, flexible, quality new build accommodation for local SMEs.”

Chase Commercial, in conjunction with investment group Atacama Europe, bought the land at Ratio:Park in 2015 through commercial property firm Halls Commercial.

Halls is now leading on securing tenants for the series of industrial units.

Rob Champion, Partner at Halls Commercial, said:

“We are experiencing strong initial interest for Ratio:Park and are hopeful that the first few plots will be reserved soon. This development provides the market with an offer which hasn’t been seen for a long time. The region is chronically short of small business units, especially those which are available to buy, and I expect us to sell rather than let the vast majority of the units on this park.”