PROMISING TIMES FOR DURSLEY AS LITTLECOMBE BUSINESS PARK OCCUPIER HOLDS OFFICIAL OPEN DAY

Gloucestershire business, Chris Tallis Farm Machinery Limited, held an official opening day at its Littlecombe Business Park premises in Dursley on Thursday (23 April). The local business has experienced strong growth since purchasing the unit from St. Modwen, the UK’s leading regeneration specialist.

The Evesham-based business sells and services agricultural and general machinery and equipment and opened the new depot in Dursley, which includes two separate units for repairs and a general store, totalling 3,015 sq ft, in August 2008.

Joining local businesses Everhot and Kordula Carpets, the company has become the seventh occupier to purchase a unit at Littlecombe Business Park, since St. Modwen launched the commercial development in 2006. The Park comprises 16 units ranging from 1,000 sq ft to 6,400 sq ft and is part of a wider mixed-use regeneration scheme which St. Modwen is currently progressing. Spanning almost 100 acres, the scheme will take 8 years to complete and will eventually comprise 600 homes and 170, 000 sq ft of employment space.

Chris Tallis Farm Machinery Limited estimates that the depot serves circa 25 per cent of the company’s total business operations across the UK. The company currently employs six staff members at the depot and expects to increase that number as the business grows and more customers become aware of the new location.

Chris Tallis Farm Machinery Limited managing director, Ben Tallis, comments:

“Our decision to open an outlet at Littlecombe Business Park with St. Modwen was partly based on the park’s strategic location in Gloucestershire, which enables us to serve a wider network of clients, from Tetbury to Bristol and as far as The Severn Vale. The new depot offers over a third of our customers easier access to our services and products.

“Since opening the outlet, business has grown rapidly, but there are still customers who are unaware of our presence in Dursley. This open day is an opportunity for existing and prospective clients to visit the store, meet the team and see what services we have on offer.”

Rupert Joseland, St. Modwen’s South West/ South Wales regional director comments:

“We are delighted to see how Chris Tallis is continuing to grow and thrive despite economic challenges. We currently have seven units sold on site with three further units currently under offer and there are six further units available for purchase on long-term lease or short-term rental basis. We expect these business units to create around 50 jobs once all units are occupied, which signals a positive employment boost for the local economy. The employment opportunities in Dursley will further increase as we build out the additional commercial accommodation as part of the wider regeneration of the area and which we expect to create over 1,000 new jobs.”

Other commercial development work undertaken as part of the 8-year phased regeneration scheme to date, has involved refurbishing Drake House, where five units are currently let to small and local businesses. The former Lister Petter owned Towers located at the Southern end of this site have also been converted to accommodate a residential nursing home, creating around 100 additional new jobs for local people.

Notes to editors

Littlecombe Business Park

Other occupiers at Littlecombe Business Park include: Linear Insulation and Rooney & Mills.

Chris Tallis Farm Equipment Machinery

The company’s depot comprises one workshop offering services to repair machinery and service engines for agricultural purposes including combine harvesters and tractors, as well as equipment for general use, such as lawn mowers. The second unit, the official store, sells its main franchise, John Deere as well as chain saws and other general machinery.

St. Modwen Properties plc

St. Modwen is the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, operating across the full spectrum of the property industry through a network of seven regional offices and a Birmingham based head office. The company is wholly focussed upon regeneration with expertise in town centre regeneration, partnering industry, brownfield, Innovation Centres and education projects.