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.

Construction of a 140,000 sq ft headquarters building at the new £120 million Worcester Six Business Park will begin soon after planners gave the development the green light, it was announced today.

Leading commercial property developer Stoford Developments gained planning consent from Wychavon District Council to build the unit after securing Kimal Plc as the first company to commit to moving to the prestigious site.

Kimal PLC agreed to locate its new headquarters at Worcester Six, located off junction six of the M5 near Worcester. The development will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation and create up to 5,000 jobs.

Kimal, a market leader in developing and manufacturing a range of innovative products and procedural solutions for the healthcare sector, has agreed a 15-year lease for the £13 million unit. Construction will commence in October for the estate road with the main building construction due to commence in early 2018. Practical completion is expected in mid 2018.

The new HQ demonstrates Kimal’s determination to remain in Worcestershire where it will continue to grow, with plans to create up to an additional 100 jobs. The company’s success means 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.

Gerard Ludlow said: “The agreement with Kimal marked a significant milestone as it was the first pre-let occupier to be secured at the site. Now that we have planning consent we can begin construction and look forward to the company moving to Worcester Six next year.”

Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure Councillor Dr Ken Pollock said: “We are delighted to see the continued commitment from Kimal to investment and growth in the County.  Confirming Kimal as the first occupier on Worcester Six is a big step forward in the right direction and reinforces Worcester Six as one of the premier employment locations in the Midlands. I look forward to more of the businesses that are currently considering the site committing over the coming months.”

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “It is great to see that planning consent has been approved for the construction of Kimal’s new headquarters at Worcester Six. Kimal’s expansion highlights the benefits of investing in Worcestershire, as the med-tech business has been able to secure a new highly-connected headquarters to continue its rapid growth and create even more jobs for the county’s skilled workforce.”

The first occupier at the £120 million Worcester Six business park has been secured by leading commercial property developer Stoford Developments.

A new 140,000 sq ft business unit is set to be built after Kimal PLC agreed to locate its new headquarters at the prestigious site, located off junction six of the M5 near Worcester. The development will provide 1.5 million sq ft of accommodation and create up to 5,000 jobs.

Kimal, a market leader in developing and manufacturing a range of innovative products and procedural solutions for the healthcare sector, has agreed a 15-year lease for the £13 million unit, Stoford director Gerard Ludlow confirmed.

A planning application will be submitted to Wychavon District Council. If consent is forthcoming, construction could commence in October with practical completion expected in mid 2018.

The new HQ demonstrates Kimal’s determination to remain in Worcestershire where it will continue to grow, with plans to create up to an additional 100 jobs.

The company’s success means 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.

Kimal is investing £3 million in an initial fit out phase, with a further £3 million investment in facilities in the pipeline. The company was represented by international real estate advisor Savills.

Gerard Ludlow said: “The agreement with Kimal marks a significant milestone as it is the first pre-let occupier to be secured at the site.

“Worcester Six business park has been selected as the preferred site for Kimal’s new facility due to its excellent communications and proximity to its existing employee base. It represents a major commitment by Kimal to the Worcestershire area. The business is a key employer in a prestigious sector.”

Alan Press, Chief Executive Officer at Kimal, said: “The move to Worcester Six demonstrates our continued commitment to the area which we first invested into in 1990 and will help Kimal realise its’ exciting growth plans going forward.”

Worcestershire County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure Dr Ken Pollock: “Kimal is a very successful family owned business with a proud history of manufacturing in Worcestershire employing more than 330 people. Welcoming a company of this calibre to Worcester Six enhances the region’s reputation as a world-class business location, and will provide a great boost to employment and the regional economy.”

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We welcome the news that Kimal has become the first investment on to the premier business site, Worcester 6. The creation of new jobs will help to boost the local economy and the expansion of innovative, market leading businesses is important for delivering the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership’s 10 year Strategic Economic Plan. This is the type of business that will define the Worcestershire economy as an excellent place to invest and we therefore look forward to similar announcements in the near future.”

Kimal’s three existing Worcestershire sites provide a manufacturing facility, sales and marketing space and storage and distribution premises. Its HQ will host a number of international guests visiting the site on a regular basis, as well as teams in customer service, product sales, research and development, assembly lines, distribution and the manufacture of medical products.17069_P115 Kimal CGI

Kimal’s turnover last year was approximately £45 million, with 60% of this generated in the UK. It is launching a further dedicated manufacturing facility in Egypt for one of its innovative product ranges. As a company Kimal is a trusted and innovative developer of devices and procedural solutions for a range of clinical departments, and supplies to health organisations in more than 70 countries across the world.