Great Yarmouth firm’s future in the Borough safeguarded by development to Beacon Park
Thursday 2nd June 2011Ongoing work to further develop Beacon Park has safeguarded the future of a major employer within the Borough.
A planning application has been submitted by Norfolk Capacitors Limited for a new 2,835 sq m (30,500 sq ft) headquarters.
NCL is a world-renowned manufacturer; at the forefront of specialised capacitor technology used in applications ranging from traction, industrial, medical and military markets. They are heavily involved in the development of projects for a range of customers including Airbus, EuroStar, Mercedes Benz and Alstom.
NCL were established in 1986 and have become a major employer in Great Yarmouth. They currently occupy dated premises at Leyden Works on Station Road, which are hindering the development and growth of the company. The workforce currently stands at 65 but the relocation at Beacon Park is expected to enable this to increase to around 100.
The development, designed by local architects, Paul Robinson Partnership, will provide a state-of-the-art production facility with high quality office accommodation on a site of approximately 1 hectare (2.5 acres). Construction is scheduled to commence in the summer with completion due in Spring 2011.
John Murfitt, Managing Director of NCL comments:
“Our business is experiencing an important growth phase, as we constantly enter new markets and exploit our export potential. For this to continue, it is essential we are able to expand into modern, purpose built premises that meet our very specific requirements.
It is also important to us that we are able to welcome international customers to prestigious premises in a high quality environment.
Beacon Park meets these requirements perfectly. Working with Great Yarmouth Borough Council, we have been able to design a substantial building that will allow us to invest further in the town and retain our existing highly skilled workforce, facilitating ongoing growth at NCL.
Without Beacon Park, it may have been necessary for us to relocate out of Great Yarmouth.
“We have been fortunate to secure the support of EEDA by way of a grant for investment in both the new building and specialist machinery.”
Having begun back in 2000 and designed to accommodate companies for whom other land and building options in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft may not be suitable, Beacon Park contains offices and business space as well as hotel, restaurant, leisure services and around 400 private houses. Existing occupiers include:
• East Anglian Ambulance Trust – 18,000 sq ft ambulance depot
• Innovation Centre – 25,000 sq ft of office space
• Minerva House – 12,000 sq ft of office space
• PKF Chartered Accountants Headquarters – 8,000 sq ft of office space.
• Travelodge hotel, with 52 rooms, opened in December 2007
• Toby Carvery family pub and restaurant, opened in March 2008.
This is the latest news this year on the Park following the announcement that the joint venture between Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the East of England Development Agency and Wellington Construction is seeing a new office campus, Wellington Park, and industrial area, Blackfriars Court, joining the already developed 25 acres at the site.
From May, work began to extend Excalibur Road past the East Anglian Ambulance Trust building to access and service the new developments, construction activity to underground the overhead 33 kV electricity cables was recently completed, paving the way for further new development.
Work will soon begin on constructing premises, which are anticipated to be available on a freehold or leasehold basis from the end of 2010.
The office campus will see over 43,000 sq ft of separate offices and over 60,000 sq ft of floor space for industrial occupiers - comprising fifteen separate units.
Both developments will enjoy the parkland landscape setting already established at Beacon Park and will benefit from the amenities already on site and the quick and easy access to the A12.
Graham Plant, the Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy, added:
“It is essential that companies currently located in Great Yarmouth have the option of relocating to a development within the town offering purpose built property in a high quality environment. We are, therefore, delighted that NCL, who are a specialist world leading business, have taken the opportunity to remain in Great Yarmouth and to invest substantially at Beacon Park. Their commitment is a clear recognition of the benefits of the Park as a project that offers companies the chance to grow their businesses locally.”
“This is another important piece in the Beacon Park jigsaw. The undergrounding of the overhead lines was an important step forward, as will be the extension of infrastructure to service these developments and release further land. Current interest in the project is encouraging and we hope that further investment can be announced shortly.”
All occupier enquiries should be directed to:
Dan Bycroft of Bycroft Commercial
Email: db@charlesbycroft.co.uk
Telephone: 01493 844489
Mobile: 07795 160168
Craig Knights of Arnolds
Email: craig.knights@arnolds.uk.com
Telephone: 01603 216825
Mobile: 07795 176527
