A one million pound investment in security and a local community partnership has paid dividends for Onward Holdings, after Langthwaite Business Park in South Kirby, West Yorkshire was officially recognised by West Yorkshire Police as crime free*.
Onward Holdings, which operates a number of highly competitively priced industrial warehousing and retail parks in the North of England, built two substantial warehouses on the site a few years ago. However, despite neither of the units suffering any vandalism concerns about security in the area resulted in reluctance by companies to take a long term let.
Enterprising Onward Holdings decided to challenge the crime issue head on and working with other community partners including the Langthwaite Business Association, Wakefield District Development Agency, English Partnerships, Wakefield Council and adjoining businesses, the group pooled their resources.
This resulted in just over £1million being invested on CCTV cameras, security lighting, new fencing, roaming security guards and also the establishment of an estate management committee. Subsequent confidence in the site dramatically increased and Litestructures went on to build a state-of-the-art 17,000 square foot music rehearsal facility on the estate.
Interest in the site has soared and Onward Holdings now only has one remaining warehouse to let, unit 16 a self-contained 122,800 square-foot (11,706 square-metre) combined warehouse and office facility. The purpose built unit incorporates a host of key features including eight loading bays, two raised loading doors and a 10,000 square-foot loading canopy with four loading bays. In keeping with Onward Holdings’ zero crime tolerance strategy, the site has a fully palisade fencing and security gates making it ideal for both ordinary and high risk products.
Onward Holdings managing director Neil Storey says: “Crime on industrial sites can be a problem unless it is quickly nipped in the bud with robust security. Fortunately there was a will on the part of all parties to tackle it head on and I am particularly grateful to the support given by the different government agencies and the Council. The fact that crime is now officially at zero on Langthwaite Business Park makes it one of the safest areas in the country and consequently a great place to run a business.”
Langthwaite Business Park is situated within easy reach of the M1, M62 and M18. The site already hosts a number of other businesses including The Ice Co Storage and Logistics, Forest Freight and Great Bear Distribution. The business park was originally known as Langthwaite Grange Industrial Estate and has undergone a major transformation since 2002, when it was then regarded as one of Wakefield district’s most troubled estates.
Promotion of the site is being undertaken jointly by GVA and Andrew Miller Chartered Surveyors of Sheffield, who are handling the letting of the final unit.
* Police, crime, postcode database
Onward Business Park
Tel: 01977 614007
Email: neil@onwardholdings.com
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