Leading private hospital provider Spire Healthcare is preparing to move into its new £9 million premises at Worcester Six Business Park after Stoford Developments handed it over, 12 months after construction began.

When the business moves to the 72,500 sq ft unit at the prestigious £120 million business site, it will provide jobs in customer and professional services, distribution services and archive management.

The healthcare company has 39 hospitals and eight clinics, as well as a Specialist Oncology Centre across England, Wales and Scotland, providing diagnostics, in-patient, daycase and out-patient care.

It also has a national distribution centre at Stonebridge Cross, Droitwich, where its 60,000 sq ft operation employs 75 people. The new facility will provide additional essential support to Spire Healthcare’s existing facilities.

Gerard Ludlow, director of Stoford Developments, which is delivering the 1.5 million sq ft Worcester Six Business Park, said: “We’re pleased to have achieved practical completion for Spire Healthcare and it comes at a pivotal time for the business park.

“The past few months have been busy at Worcester Six and we’ve made several announcements regarding new occupiers, which demonstrates the business need for the site. As each new business prepares to move in, it means new jobs and a strengthening commitment to investing in the area.”

Mat Mason, Group Supply Chain Director at Spire Healthcare, said: “As we prepare to move into our new site at Worcester Six, these are exciting times for our Supply Chain function. The site will give us improved facilities and additional capacity and resilience in terms of warehousing capability to ensure we continue to provide a first class customer service to all our sites in the Spire Healthcare Group.”

Councillor Ken Pollock, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure said: “It’s great news that the Spire Healthcare will soon be moving into their new premises on the Worcester Six Business Park.

“It’s another success story for the park and for Worcestershire’s economy.  Being Open for Business is one of the County Council’s key priorities and this park is certainly living up to that, with four tenants now confirmed and more to be confirmed soon.”

Coun Bradley Thomas, Leader of Wychavon District Council, said “I’m excited to welcome additional Spire Healthcare investment in Wychavon. This is fantastic for the local economy and I’m gratified to see the creation of even more jobs in our district. This is also a further vote of confidence in Worcester Six Business Park, which has built a great reputation across the region for delivering high quality business growth.”

Luke Willetts, Director of Operations at Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We’re delighted to hear that Spire Healthcare are now able to move into their new premises on the Worcester Six Business Park. The investment is a real success story for all involved and we’re pleased to know that the deal will create high quality jobs for the local economy.”

Last month (February 2019), Stoford announced that work had begun on a £20 million environmentally friendly development for Kohler Mira, parent company of Mira Showers. It was the fourth occupier to announce its move to Worcester Six in the last few months.

Worcester Six Business Park is located off junction 6 of the M5, near Worcester. It is one of the four key investment sites across the county where Worcestershire County Council and its partners are looking to develop, creating additional jobs.

For more details about Worcester Six, visit www.worcester6.co.uk.

Work has begun on a £20 million environmentally-friendly development that will bring a leading UK kitchen and bathroom manufacturer to Worcestershire.

Kohler Mira, parent company of Mira Showers, is the fourth occupier to announce its move to Worcester Six this year, and marks a significant investment for the company, which is expanding its UK operations.

Kohler Mira already has sites in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Hull, and has selected Worcester Six for the latest phase of its UK growth.

Stoford Developments has appointed Bennimans, a Worcestershire-based contractor to construct the distribution, training and office unit site for the manufacturer. The developer expects to hand over the first phase, 158,000 sq ft unit by September (2019). A further 100,000 sq ft of space could be constructed at a later date.

Key to the sustainable development is the inclusion of a large PV solar array on the roof, which should generate up to 1MW and will help towards Kohler Mira’s aims to be carbon neutral by 2035.

Wayne Walker, Vice President of Manufacturing – Global Faucets at Kohler Co., said: “This purpose-built facility reflects both our continued investment in the UK and our commitment to sustainability and the environment.

“The new development is a result of both an increase in customer demand and the need to meet future business requirements, and makes us more agile and flexible to consumer needs.”

Stoford director, Gerard Ludlow, said: “We’re starting 2019 in positive mood as construction work begins on the Kohler Mira site at Worcester Six, adding to two key developments that were completed last year for Siemens and Kimal. It is clear this is a much-needed development that is attracting high-calibre occupiers and bringing valuable inward investment and jobs to the area. We’re looking forward to continuing work this year, bringing forward further developments and new tenants.”

Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, Councillor Dr Ken Pollock, said: “Work starting on the Kohler Mira site at Worcester Six marks another step forward for this fantastically located Business Park.

“With Kimal, Siemens and Spire Healthcare already successfully established on site, we hope news of Kohler Mira’s state-of-the-art facility will help to attract further inward investment for the county of Worcestershire.”

Worcester Six Business Park is located off junction 6 of the M5, near Worcester. It is one of the four key investment sites across the county where Worcestershire County Council and its partners are looking to develop, creating additional jobs.

A leading manufacturer and supplier of products for the healthcare sector is starting 2019 on a high note after taking delivery of its new £13m headquarters at Worcester Six.

Kimal PLC is planning to move to the 140,000 sq ft unit in February after Stoford Developments delivered the design-and-build and completed practical completion on time and budget.

The handover means the company will now begin to move 77 staff from its Droitwich base into the new unit and will also retain two other centres in Bromsgrove and Uxbridge, where a further 250 staff are located.

Gerard Ludlow, director at Stoford Developments, said: “This is another milestone reached in the progress of Worcester Six and we are very pleased to sign off practical completion on this building for the international firm.

“The calibre of tenants at the development demonstrates that this is a world-class location for high-tech and innovative businesses. 2018 saw a number of exciting announcements about tenants and this year we will continue to develop and market further first-class units.  We are expecting to make another announcement during early 2019.”

Alan Press, Chairman of Kimal, said: “We are most excited to be completing our wonderful new headquarters at Worcester Six. This 140,000 sq ft is actually our seventh logistics site in Worcestershire having outgrown the previous six over the last 28 years and is a testament to the continued success of the Kimal team. We cannot wait to be in occupation.”

Real estate company Liberty Property Trust acquired the building last year from Stoford Developments, the third industrial unit in its Worcester Six portfolio.

Jane Harrison, director at Liberty Property Trust, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Kimal plc to our building and working with them to facilitate their future business growth at Worcester Six.”

Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, Councillor Ken Pollock, said: “It’s great to see this hugely successful Worcestershire company expand into this ideally located business park. We are seeing more local firms expanding than ever before and new businesses making the move to Worcestershire, both helping to keep our economy thriving.”

In 2018, Stoford Developments announced that Siemens, Spire Healthcare and Kohler Mira would all be taking facilities at Worcester Six. Once fully developed, Worcester Six will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation.

Picture caption:  (L-R): Jane Harrison, director of asset management, Liberty Property Trust; Gary Woodman, chief executive, Worcestershire LEP; Cllr Dr Ken Pollock, cabinet member responsible for economy and infrastructure, Worcestershire County Council; Mark Pettitt, chief executive officer, Kimal; Cllr Richard Morris, deputy leader of Wychavon District Council & portfolio holder for economic growth and tourism; Gerard Ludlow, director, Stoford.

A leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bathroom products has today announced plans to create a state-of-the-art distribution, training and office unit in Worcestershire.

Kohler Mira, parent company of leading UK shower brand Mira Showers, is initially investing over £20 million in the first phase of its 11.3-acre development. Phase 1 of the scheme will deliver a unit of 158,000 sq ft with a further phase delivering up to an additional 100,000 sq ft.

The scheme will be delivered by Stoford Developments at the successful Worcester Six Business Park, situated just off Jct 6 of the M5 near Worcester. Kohler Mira, owned by Kohler Co., represents the third significant inward investment into the business park from a US investor. This is particularly exciting given Kohler’s on-going global commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

The sustainable building will include high-tech features including a significant PV solar array on the roof of the building providing a sustainable energy source. Once installed the PVs could generate up to 1MW. This underlines the company’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2035.

The company, which manufactures Mira showers, taps and bathroom accessories, already has operations in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Hull, has selected Worcester Six for the latest phase of its UK growth. 

The reserved matters planning application was submitted yesterday (July 17) to Wychavon District Council after consultation with local stakeholders. Birmingham-based Stoford Developments has been appointed to deliver the first phase. 

Construction could start on site before the end of the year, subject to planning consent and would seek to deliver Phase 1 by April 2019. 

Liz Hazeldene, managing director of Kohler Mira, said: “This is an exciting opportunity that clearly reflects our continued investment in the UK.

“This purpose-built facility is a result of both an increase in customer demand and the need to meet future business requirements.”

Stoford director Gerard Ludlow said: “Worcester Six is beginning to gain real momentum now and this major inward investment in the region by Kohler Mira demonstrates that it is being recognised as a key business location in the Midlands. 

“We have already recently announced the impending arrival of Siemens, Kimal and Spire Healthcare, and we’re excited at Kohler Mira’s commitment to invest heavily in this high quality development. We are also expecting to announce the delivery of another tenant by the end of the summer.”

Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, Councillor Dr Ken Pollock, said: “It’s great to welcome Kohler Mira as the fourth business to the Worcester Six Business Park. I’m looking forward to seeing their unit take shape as, with the focus on sustainability, it will be fascinating to see the state-of-the-art facility put into action.”

The beginning of construction of a £9 million business unit for leading UK independent hospital group, Spire Healthcare, at the prestigious £120 million Worcester Six Business Park, has been announced today by Stoford Developments.

Spire Healthcare, the UK’s largest private hospital provider in terms of revenue, has agreed a 20-year lease on a new 72,500 sq ft unit at the site. The move to the unit could create around 60 jobs.

Mat Mason, Group Supply Chain Director at Spire Healthcare, Gerard Ludlow, of Stoford, Nigel Hudson, of Worcestershire County Council, Gary Woodman, of Worcestershire LEP, Councillor Lynda Robson and Shawn Riley, of Wychavon District Council, and Michael Maddox, of Knight Frank Investment Management, attended ceremony to mark the official start of work on site.

Wychavon District Council gave the development planning consent earlier this year. A&H Construction has been appointed main contractors to deliver the unit by Birmingham-based Stoford Developments.

Two months ago construction also started at Worcester Six on a 140,000 sq ft headquarters for Kimal PLC. The business park, located just off junction six of the M5, will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation and create up to 5,000 jobs.

Spire Healthcare, a FTSE 250 listed business, is already a major employer in Worcestershire with a hospital at South Bank in Worcester and The Spire Clinic in Droitwich. The new building will be ancillary to these existing healthcare facilities and will support these functions as well as other Hospitals across the UK.

Spire Healthcare requires further supply chain infrastructure and facilities to support its warehousing operations. In Worcestershire, Spire already has a National Distribution Centre at Stonebridge Cross in Droitwich – another Stoford development – where it has a 60,000 sq ft operation providing around 70 jobs.  .

The new unit will provide jobs in customer and professional services, distribution services and archive management.

Gerard Ludlow, director of Stoford, said: “With the start of construction of Spire’s unit we can really see the Worcester Six vision beginning to take shape. Nearby we can already see Kimal’s new headquarters making great progress so these are exciting times for the business community in Worcestershire.”

Mat Mason who is leading the project for Spire Healthcare, said: “This represents the next stage of our evolution, building upon the solid supply chain and infrastructure that is already in place, which has served the business well for the past 10 years. These are exciting times for all involved and will open the next chapter of the Spire supply chain so we can continue to provide a first class customer service to the Spire Healthcare Group.”

Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure Dr Ken Pollock said: “With work starting on construction of this new building for Spire Healthcare, you can really start to see Worcester Six take shape and move forward.

“Work is already well underway for Kimal’s new headquarters and with the recently announced expansion for Material Solutions; it puts the Worcester Six Business Park firmly on the map for other potential businesses who are after an amazing location.”

Gary Woodman, chief executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Worcester Six is really beginning to take shape with Spire Healthcare becoming the second tenant to begin construction of their headquarters. The high profile investment opportunity has generated a large amount of interest, and Spire Healthcare is a really exciting addition to the site which will enable the local economy to prosper.”

Liberty Property Trust has acquired a pre-let industrial unit at the £120 million Worcester Six business park as it begins an ambitious investment and development drive.

 

The real estate company has acquired the 140,000 sq ft building where Kimal Plc, a market leader in developing and manufacturing a range of innovative products and procedural solutions for the healthcare sector, has agreed to locate its new headquarters.

 

Unit 10A is the third industrial building in Liberty’s Worcester Six portfolio. It has already completed Liberty 45 and Liberty 163, a 45,000 sq ft unit and 163,000 sq ft unit respectively, which were built as a joint venture with Stoford Developments as part of the first phase.

 

Jane Harrison, Director, at Liberty Property Trust, said the acquisition forms part of a drive that will see the company seek to add a further half a million sq ft of industrial and warehouse space to its portfolio over the next two years. 

 

“We know the location very well, thanks to the speculative developments we have recently completed with our joint venture partners Stoford Developments at Worcester Six,” she said.

 

“When the opportunity arose to buy the building we knew it would be the right fit for our growing portfolio. This asset, alongside our development starts in Northampton, Widnes and Lichfield, gives Liberty a strong presence in the industrial and logistics market.”

 

Kimal Plc recently announced it has agreed to locate its new headquarters at Worcester Six, which is located off junction six of the M5, because it is outgrowing its existing accommodation at Droitwich and Redditch. Employees at these two centres will be relocated to the new HQ. The company will continue to operate at sites in Bromsgrove and Uxbridge.

 

It has agreed a 15-year lease for the £13 million unit and will invest more than £3 million in an initial fit out phase, with a further £3 million investment in facilities overtime. In parallel, it has plans to create up to an additional 100 jobs over a period of time due to the increased capacity the new site offers.

 

Gerard Ludlow, director at Stoford, said: “When the opportunity arose to acquire Unit 10A, Liberty Property Trust was quick to take advantage of the sale and we are very pleased that a trusted company with whom we work has decided to take it on. It’s good news for us and Liberty, as well as for Kimal, which will have an excellent landlord.”

 

Alan Press, chief executive officer at Kimal, said: “We are excited about the impending move to Worcester Six, which reinforces our commitment to the West Midlands and Worcestershire specifically whilst also helping to facilitate our growth plans for Kimal both domestically and internationally.”

 

Once fully developed, Worcester Six will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation and create up to 5,000 jobs.