An international flooring designer, manufacturer and distributor has announced plans to move part of its UK operations to the Worcester Six Business Park as it looks to grow the business.

Worcestershire-based Victoria PLC, the UK’s largest flooring manufacturer and distributor, has specified leading developer Stoford to deliver a bespoke unit at the business park, which will house one of its businesses, Alliance Flooring Distribution.

Stoford has this week submitted a planning application to Wychavon District Council for a 180,121 sq ft unit for the company, which has been a major employer in Kidderminster since 1900 and has agreed a 15-year lease for unit 7.  The facility is expanding its existing locations and will be operational in Q4 2022.

Edward Peel, Development Manager for Stoford, said both Stoford and Victoria PLC are committed to reducing their carbon footprint.  To achieve that, the base build of the unit will be net carbon zero in operation and will feature extensive electric vehicle charging points and photovoltaic panels on the roof.

Two new ponds are also being created as part of the build, which will help to further improve the green infrastructure on the business park, providing an attractive setting and new wildlife habitats.

“Attracting yet another global player to Worcester Six is a real success story,” he said. “The building of unit 7 will enable Victoria PLC to continue its growth plans, which can only be good news for the local economy. We’re looking forward to working closely with it as we develop its plans for a sustainable new base.

“Worcester Six is living up to its reputation as a game-changer development. Ambitious businesses are keen to come here and take advantage of the strategic location, the high quality builds and the attractive environment that the business park sits in.”

Philippe Hamers, CEO for Victoria PLC, said a new, bespoke building for Alliances UK headquarters will future-proof the business and allow the continued growth of the Victoria PLC brand portfolio and its third party customers. It hopes to create an additional 60 jobs over the next five years.

“This move will allow us to further develop and grow our workforce using local skills and we are hoping to develop a work experience and apprenticeship scheme in the next two years to complement this and aid our continued growth,” he said.

“The location of Worcester Six is perfect. This gives immediate access to the motorway network. Combine this with how long we have been an employer in this area, the local workforce who have great experience in flooring and the fact that we are able to future-proof our business by building a fit for purpose headquarters in an attractive setting with all of the green credentials we are striving for, offers an exciting future for us.”

In the past three years, Worcester Six has welcomed Marmon Food and Beverage Equipment, Siemens, Spire Healthcare, Kimal, Kohler Mira and IONOS.

Victoria PLC was advised by Brasier Freeth and Stoford by BNP Paribas and Harris Lamb.

For details about the scheme and other units that can be provided, contact the agent: Charles D’Auncey at Harris Lamb or Ben Wiley at BNP Paribas.

Leading developer Stoford has submitted plans for an extension at Worcester Six Business Park on the southern side of the site.

Worcester Six Business Park, which is located a few minutes’ drive from junction six of the M5, is home to a number of major national and international companies, including Kohler Mira, Spire Healthcare, Cornelius, Kimal, and Materials Solutions, which has one of Europe’s largest 3D printing facilities. Work has also started on the county’s largest data centre for IONOS.

Stoford has already delivered £75 million of investment to the site and now wants to put into place its original plans to extend the business park to the south, adjacent to Newtown Road, which will provide up to a further 680,000 sq ft of floorspace on 60.14 acres of land.

It has always been the intention to add the land into the business park and it is included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan, which was adopted in 2016 by councils in south Worcestershire.

Stoford held a public consultation on the proposed extension in March, which comprised a focused community engagement exercise, online webinars and meetings. A website and social media campaign also reached more than 14,000 Facebook and LinkedIn users, while mailshots were sent to 800 local homes and there were more than 330 website views during the two-week consultation period.

Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford, said: “Worcester Six has quickly established itself as a game-changer development and having attracted a number of businesses to Worcester Six over the past three years, we are now in a strong position to develop the southern extension.”

The developer is also fulfilling its commitment to safeguarding and improving the green space at ensuring Worcester Six. It has worked with Worcestershire’s Green Infrastructure (GI) Partnership to create a long-term GI Concept Plan, which will see Stoford putting aside 40% – approximately eight hectares – of the site for natural habitats and landscaping.

Plans include retention of woodland, wet and rough grassland areas, and species-rich hedgerows.  Approximately 500 metres of poor-quality hedgerow will be removed and replaced with 3,000 metres of new native hedgerows to boost wildlife species. It will also plant more than 250 trees, three hectares of new woodland and shrub planting and 5,000m² of wildflower seeding and native bulb planting.

Stoford, the developer behind Worcester Six, is to launch a public consultation into a proposed extension at the business park, which would drive investment to the region.

Worcester Six Business Park, which is located a few minutes’ drive from junction six of the M5, is home to a number of companies, including Kohler Mira, Spire Healthcare, Cornelius, Kimal, and Materials Solutions, which has one of Europe’s largest 3D printing facilities. Work has also started on the county’s largest data centre for IONOS.

Stoford has already delivered £75 million of investment to the site and it is now looking to prepare an outline planning application to extend the business park to the south, adjacent to Newtown Road, which will provide an additional 60.14 acres of space.

The developer is hosting an online pre-application public consultation between 8 and 22 March, with a live webinar session on Tuesday, 16 March, where members of the public can hear the developer’s plans for the site and ask questions.

Gerard Ludlow, Director at Stoford, said: “This is a pocket of land that has always been earmarked for the business park and is included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan, which was adopted in 2016 by councils in south Worcestershire.

“Now, thanks to our success in attracting world-class employers over the past three years, we are in the position to put forward our plans to develop the Southern Extension.

“It would herald another significant investment in the site and form an important part of our plans for this ‘game changer’ development, which is considered to be an exemplar for its economic and environmental performance.

“While we are currently unable to hold in-person public events, we still want to provide the public with the opportunity to find out more, ask us questions and comment on the plans.”

As well as delivering a first-class business park, Stoford is also committed to ensuring Worcester Six is a valuable green space for the community. It has already completed a wide range of work to safeguard the environment and preserve the rich wildlife at the site.

It has worked with Worcestershire’s Green Infrastructure (GI) Partnership to create a long-term GI Concept Plan, which commits Stoford to making sure 40% – approximately eight hectares – of the site is earmarked for natural habitats and landscaping.

Plans include retention of woodland, wet and rough grassland areas, and species-rich hedgerows.  Approximately 500 metres of poor-quality hedgerow will be removed and replaced with 3,000 metres of new native hedgerows to boost wildlife species. It will also plant more than 250 trees, three hectares of new woodland and shrub planting and 5,000m² of wildflower seeding and native bulb planting.

To review the proposals and register for the webinar, click here or email Stoford at worcester6@turley.co.uk.

Work has commenced on the much-anticipated data centre at the Worcester Six Business Park for one of Europe’s largest data-hosting companies.

Property developer Stoford secured planning for a highly energy-efficient, cutting-edge facility of more than 50,000 sq ft for IONOS and its subsidiary UK brand, Fasthosts.

Sustainability is at the forefront of the development, with renewable energy being provided by solar photovoltaic panels, which cover the entire roof, while the wall and roof cladding uses Tata Steel’s Confidex Sustain to create a carbon-neutral building envelope.

Work is now well underway on site, with building contractor Benniman Construction anticipating completion of works in August 2021.

Edward Peel, Development Manager at Stoford, said: “We have made a really positive start to 2021, with works on the new facility for IONOS commencing within a few short weeks of planning approval from Wychavon District Council.

“We’ve been working closely with IONOS to get to this stage and are looking forward to delivering Wychavon’s first data centre. IONOS is a world-class business that has recognised the strengths of the Worcester Six Business Park, such as the strategic location and excellent infrastructure links.”

Councillor Richard Morris, Executive Board Member for Economic Growth and Tourism at Wychavon District Council, said: “I’m delighted to see work start on this very exciting project. This is further proof that companies recognise Wychavon is a world class place to invest, grow and do business.”

Councillor Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “It is great news for the county as construction begins at IONOS’s unit at Worcester Six Business Park. It’s another clear and visual indication of the progress we have made in welcoming world-renowned businesses to Worcestershire.

“This development continues to strengthen Worcester Six Business Park’s reputation as a first-rate business location. It also provides Worcestershire with a highly valued asset, bringing substantial economic benefits for the county, and I look forward to seeing the business park continue to take shape.”

IONOS was established in 1988 and is the largest hosting company in Europe, managing more than eight million customer contracts and hosting more than 12 million domains in its regional data centres around the globe. The IONOS group operates in fifteen countries around the world and employs 3,500 people worldwide.

In the past three years, Worcester Six has welcomed Marmon Food and Beverage Equipment, Siemens, Spire Healthcare, Kimal and Kohler Mira. Once fully developed, the business park will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation.

For details about the scheme and other units that can be provided, contact the agents: Charles D’Auncey at Harris Lamb – charles.dauncey@harrislamb.com, or Nick Hardie at BNP Paribas Real Estate – Nick.Hardie@realestate.bnpparibas.

 

The developer behind the Worcester Six Business Park has revealed it is on track to complete its extensive work to safeguard the environment and preserve the rich wildlife at the site.

Stoford Developments has already finished a number of projects at the business park, which will – when completed – provide about 1.5m sq ft of employment floor space in a unique business environment.

Edward Peel, development manager at Stoford, said Worcester Six is classed as a “game changer” development, which is considered to be an exemplar for its economic and environmental performance.

“The environmental remit is central to the development work and we’re proud to be delivering not just a first-class business park, but valuable green space that is a vital plant species and wildlife habitat,” he said.

“As custodians of the site, it is incumbent on us to not just preserve it, but to improve it for future generations. We’re taking this work extremely seriously and we’re already seeing the benefits, which we know will contribute hugely to the environmental strategy in Worcestershire.”

Working with Worcestershire’s Green Infrastructure (GI) Partnership has led to the creation of a long-term GI Concept Plan, which commits Stoford to making sure 40% – approximately 16.5 hectares – of the site is earmarked for green infrastructure.

The Plan also commits the Birmingham-based developer to creating: 38 metres of new watercourse; and 100% retention of woodland, wet grassland, rough grassland and species-rich hedgerows.

It has made a start on its commitment to remove 527 metres of poor-quality hedgerow and replace it with 3000 metres of new hedgerow planting to boost wildlife species; and to plant more than 250 standard trees, three hectares of new woodland and shrub planting and 5000m² of wildflower seeding and native bulb planting.

Stoford has fully protected and committed to the long-term management of 0.8 hectares of wet grassland meadows, which, with two parcels of ancient woodland, forms a central component of the “green spine” and are vital habitats for wildlife and plant species.

Newly planted hedgerows and tree-planting in buffer zones will also re-link the two ancient woodland sites together, making them more resilient and of greater value for wildlife.

It has also saved veteran trees, which are valuable sources for fungi, lichens, bryophytes and deadwood invertebrates, and are also important nesting and roosting sites for bats and birds, while those that could not be retained within the development site have been moved elsewhere within the green spine.

It is also planning to create two wildlife structures, at least one of which will be designed specifically for swifts, which return to the same nest every year, establishing colonies that can last for centuries. The new nest site aims to establish a swift population here for future generations.

Councillor Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure said: “It is great to see the progress being made in all aspects of the Worcester Six Development. I am very much looking forward to seeing the positive impact of the tireless work our teams have put in, in the most difficult of circumstances, to maintain the county’s extensive progress in the business development and growth area. The County Council is keen to see development which also conserves and enhances Worcestershire’s rich natural and historic environment. The preservation of iconic floodplain grassland, ancient woodlands and veteran trees will make this site especially valuable for both today’s businesses and for the enjoyment of future generations.”

Over the past three years, Stoford Developments has announced the arrival of IONOS, Marmon Food and Beverage Equipment, Siemens, Spire Healthcare, Kimal and Kohler Mira at Worcester Six. Once fully developed, Worcester Six will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation.

A major data centre is to be built on Worcester Six, the flagship business park, after Wychavon District Council approved plans by leading property developer Stoford.

The development of plot 6 will deliver a 51,479 sq ft unit to be undertaken on behalf of 1&1 IONOS Ltd, which is the largest European-based data hosting company.

The new site is earmarked to become a highly energy-efficient, cutting-edge data centre totalling 38,501 sq ft for IONOS and its subsidiary brand Fasthosts for UK and overseas customers. The development will also include 12,978 sq ft of ancillary offices.

Edward Peel, Development Manager at Stoford, said: “The approval for the IONOS development will bring another world-class operator to Worcester Six, which recognises the strategic location, excellent infrastructure links, and talented workforce that businesses can draw upon.

“We believe this is the first data centre to come to Wychavon and it is a clear indication of the confidence that IONOS, which is the largest cloud and hosting provider in Europe, has for the area, and for the business park.

“The excellent central location of Worcester Six, plus the availability and diverse routing of services that we have installed to the site, made this a forerunner for IONOS; we are proud to be delivering this building for them.”

Achim Weiss, IONOS CEO, said: “We are thrilled to start construction of the Worcester Six data centre soon. The demand for cloud services has been growing even more in these difficult times and with our new site we will be able to provide a variety of hosting, computing, and storage solutions to customers across the UK. We are very grateful that Wychavon District Council has approved our application so quickly.”

Councillor Richard Morris, Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for economic growth at Wychavon District Council, added: “IONOS choosing Wychavon as a base for their new data centre and offices is a tremendous vote of confidence in our local economy and will create high quality jobs in a growth industry.  I look forward to having a tour of the new centre when it opens next year.”

Councillor Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure at Worcestershire County Council, added: “We look forward to working with IONOS, as a potential new occupier of the Worcester Six Business Park. This news is testament to the teams who have worked tirelessly in the most difficult of circumstances to maintain the county’s extensive progress in the business development and growth area.

“Data has become one of the world’s most valuable commodities in recent years and the pandemic has not altered this. Data centre demand continues to be driven by the rapid adoption of cloud services and the emergence of business models. This development not only solidifies Worcester Six Business Park as a first-rate business location but also provides Worcestershire with a highly valued asset, bringing substantial economic benefits for the county.”

IONOS was established in 1988 and is the largest hosting company in Europe, managing more than eight million customer contracts and hosting more than 12 million domains in its regional data centres around the globe. The IONOS group operates in fifteen countries around the world and employs 3,500 people worldwide.

In the past two years, Worcester Six has welcomed Marmon Food and Beverage Equipment, Siemens, Spire Healthcare, Kimal and Kohler Mira at Worcester Six. Once fully developed, the business park will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation.

Stoford also obtained consent for a speculative unit of 37,000 sq ft in February this year, which it says can be delivered within a 10-month period.