News Archive

ANOTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PHASE PLANNED AT CRANFIELD

Expansion demands of successful occupiers of the 99-acre Cranfield University Technology Park have led to St Modwen Properties PLC seeking planning consent to develop a further 7,896 sq m (85,000 sq ft) of hi-tech buildings.

St Modwen, in partnership with Cranfield University, plans to develop speculatively 4,700 sq m (50,600 sq ft) of buildings incorporating offices and research/production facilities, ranging from 604 sq m ( 6,500 sq ft) to 1,393 sq m (15,000 sq ft). These will offer occupiers their own front-door buildings for the first time on the park. It is hoped that work can begin in late summer.

A three-storey flagship building of 3,251 sq m (35,000 sq ft ) is also planned and will be constructed once an occupier has been secured for the major part of the building.

Nick Kay, development director of St Modwen, explained: “We need to build another phase to meet the demand of existing occupiers of the 7,200 sq m ( 77,500 sq ft ) Derwent House and Trent House complex and the Innovation Centre to have more space.

“These buildings have been very successful and are maintaining 100 per cent occupancy levels but now some of the businesses want to expand into their own buildings. We are creating a sustainable community of like-minded businesses. As firms move into new buildings it releases space for new innovative businesses to move into the existing buildings. There is a waiting list of firms seeking occupancy.

The Technology Park is home to Nissan’s 18,580 sq m ( 200,000 sq ft ) European design headquarters. St Modwen has more than 60 acres still to develop.

For further information contact Nick Kay (020 7499 5666). Issued by Paul Raymer of Howle Chapman Raymer (0121 236 7771).