News
MAJOR UTILITY OPERATOR TAKES SPACE AT HIGHCROSS' WHITTLE ESTATE
January 2011
Highcross has let a 20,867 sq ft unit at its Whittle Estate near Leicester to a major utility operator, on a five-year lease.
The unit, which is fitted with crane equipment, has been re-configured by Highcross, to meet the occupier's requirements.
Highcross asset manager, Joe Curlett comments: "The Whittle Estate's major attraction is its ability to meet a wide range of specialist requirements, including in some cases, built-in cranes and unusually high eaves, plus a high degree of flexibility in unit size and fit-out."
The 54-acre Whittle Estate includes 668,000 sq ft of industrial and office space and was acquired by Highcross in 2008. Located five miles from central Leicester, the estate's facilities include on-site estate management, cafe and 24-hour manned security.
Joint letting agents for the Whittle Estate are Andrew & Ashwell and Innes England.
MANUFACTURING START-UP SELECTS HIGHCROSS' WHITTLE ESTATE
December 2010
Highcross has let a 15,000 sq ft unit at its Whittle Estate near Leicester to newly-formed company, Mint Manufacturing, on a three-year lease.
The company, which provides prototyping, acrylic fabrication, assembly, build and finishing services for retail point-of-purchase and point-of-sale displays, opened for business this month.
Director, Ian Coltman, comments: "We were looking for manufacturing premises with significant capacity and room for growth and the Whittle Estate was able to provide a facility which we could upgrade to meet our specific requirements. This, combined with the good location, local employment resources and attractive rent levels, made it an ideal site to launch our new business."
The 54-acre Whittle Estate includes 668,000 sq ft of industrial and office space and was acquired by Highcross in 2008. Located five miles from central Leicester, the estate has an on-site estate manager, cafe, meeting room facilities and 24-hour manned security.
Highcross asset manager, Joe Curlett comments: "This year, we have let more than 130,000 sq ft of industrial space at the Whittle Estate to nine new occupiers, highlighting the continued demand for production and warehouse units in the area. The estate has a strong industrial heritage and it's good to see a new manufacturing company selecting Whittle as the best place to start and grow its business."
Joint letting agents for the Whittle Estate are Andrew & Ashwell and Innes England.
APRIL 2010 - HIGHCROSS AGREES WHITTLE DEAL WITH MIDLANDS LOGISTICS FIRM
Highcross has let 56,000 sq ft at its Whittle Estate near Leicester to Gee Force Logistics on a five-year lease.
Gee Force Logistics, which specialises in garment distribution and processing, is relocating from its current site, close to Leicester city centre. The company, which delivers throughout the UK, also provides general logistics services and quality control checks on imported products.
Managing Director, Gee Hothi, said the Whittle Estate’s location was a prime benefit: “The estate’s proximity to the motorway and its convenience for our existing staff were important factors in our relocation, together with the good security on site.”
The 54-acre Whittle Estate includes 668,000 sq ft of industrial and office space and was acquired by Highcross in 2008. Located five miles from central Leicester, the estate has an on-site estate manager, cafe, meeting room facilities and 24-hour manned security.
Highcross asset manager, Joe Curlett comments: “Our flexible approach to accommodating Gee Force within a number of interconnecting buildings, means we could satisfy their quite specific requirement for a large amount of warehouse space, under one roof on a secure estate.”
Joint letting agents for the Whittle Estate are Andrew & Ashwell and Innes England.
METAL FABRICATORS EXPAND AT HIGHCROSS’ WHETSTONE ESTATE
Leicestershire metal fabricating company, County Fabrications, is moving to Highcross’ Whittle Estate in Whetstone following expansion.
County Fabrications has taken 12,500 sq ft of manufacturing space on a ten-year lease. The company, which is currently based in Market Harborough, will be locating all its fabrication and sheet metal operations to two adjacent units at the Whittle Estate.
County Fabrications director, Ian Ross, said the lifting equipment installed in the units was a major benefit: “As well as providing the additional space we required, the units were already equipped with cranes, which are ideal for our business operations.”
The 54-acre Whittle Estate includes 668,000 sq ft of industrial and office space and was acquired by Highcross in 2008. Located five miles from central Leicester, the estate has an on-site estate manager, cafe, meeting room facilities and 24-hour manned security.
Highcross asset manager, Joe Curlett said: “The strong industrial heritage of the Whittle Estate means that we are able to meet specialised requirements, such as this lifting equipment, which would otherwise require major capital expenditure. Many of our units, including the ones taken by County Fabrications, also have the benefit of unusually high eaves – in this case up to 15 metres.”
Malcolm Grayson of letting agents, Andrew & Ashwell added: “We are pleased to secure this substantial letting for the Whittle Estate where enquiries have been strong over recent months. We expect other transactions to complete imminently following improvements undertaken to the site by Highcross.”
HIGHCROSS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY OCCUPIERS
Highcross’ latest occupier survey has shown continuing high levels of customer satisfaction, with 93% saying they would recommend Highcross as a landlord.
More than eighty companies responded to the survey, which was sent to all Highcross occupiers across the UK. 80% of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the service provided by the Highcross team, compared to 79% in last year’s survey.
The top three reasons given by occupiers for taking on their current premises were first, location; second, cost and third, size. Highcross’ director of asset management, Nick Turner, said the survey results indicate the appeal of Highcross’ flexible approach, quality premises and hands-on service to customers:
“We recently launched our service standards, demonstrating our commitment to providing the best possible service to occupiers, and this annual survey is a vital way of ensuring those standards are maintained and, where possible, exceeded.”
Highcross is now introducing a range of service improvements in response to issues highlighted by the survey.
Nick Turner added: “We have been focussing on ways of improving all aspects of our customer service over the past year and it has been good to see this reflected in the responses from our occupiers. The survey highlighted that 81% of our occupiers were either satisfied or very satisfied and we hope to maintain and build on this approval rating over the coming year.”
