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As the official opening of junction 29A of the M1 marks its first anniversary, Henry Boot Developments Ltd, the company behind the adjacent Markham Vale commercial park, is welcoming another occupier, with several more companies involved in the legal process, and further announcements expected shortly.
Derbyshire company, Holdsworth has purchased a 15,000 sq. ft unit at Markham Vale’s speculative development, “Waterloo Court”. The privately owned firm which also has depots in Tideswell, Evesham, Northampton and South Wales, requires easy access to the M1 for its food service operations which delivers supplies to caterers across the Midlands, Yorkshire, the South East, South West and South Wales.
Chairman of the £46 million turnover company, Michael Holdsworth comments: “Our expansion plans and the location of the park just off the new junction of the M1 were the main reasons for our move. We can now cut our delivery times considerably as we will no longer have to battle town traffic. The larger premises and location also means that our suppliers can deliver less frequently therefore reducing emissions and congestion. Another major concern was the disruption for our staff but Markham Vale is not too far from our current site, and is on a convenient bus route so our staff can still get to work efficiently. ”
Mr Holdsworth was also impressed by the scheme’s eco credentials which have seen it receive a BREEAM rating of “very good”, with units comprising photovoltaic panels . He comments: “Reducing our carbon footprint is an important factor, and we will definitely benefit from lower energy running costs which makes financial sense.”
Ben Ward, development surveyor at Henry Boot Developments adds: “The opening of the new junction has definitely contributed to the surge in popularity of the scheme. Over the past 12 months, enquiries from local companies have escalated considerably, with many drawn to Markham’s great location and the quality build we are offering at Waterloo Court. For many businesses keeping the same staff is key to their ongoing success, and for Chesterfield firms, the site is close enough to ensure that this happens.”
A further boost for the Markham Vale scheme has been the success of its flagship business support facility, the Environment Centre which is now 90% occupied by a range of firms from the environmental technology sector. The 18,000 sq. ft building, at the heart of the development is fully sustainable and environmentally friendly with a roof mounted wind turbine to generate electricity, solar panels and a ‘grey’ water recycling facility. Short rotation willow is also being grown on the site to provide wood fuel for the centre’s wood fired heating boiler.
The centre’s amenities include exhibition space, conference and training facilities.
Ben Ward adds: “The environment centre has also benefited from the junction opening, and is now a thriving operation used by many local businesses. It is regarded as a paragon of sustainable commercial development, and has defintely assisted in promoting the superb eco credentials of Markham Vale as a whole.”
King Sturge are the appointed agents for Markham Vale.