Thousands of jobs to be created as work commences on £105m Yorkshire business park

Work is now underway on site at a £105m Yorkshire business park, which has the capacity to create 2,550 sustainable jobs.

Property development company Glentrool Estates Group is transforming a 75-acre site at Junction 42 of the A1(M) Sherburn-in-Elmet near Leeds into a new business and employment park.

The site, called Sherburn2, is wholly owned and fully funded by Glentrool. It is next to the existing Sherburn Park, which boasts a wide range of occupiers including Debenhams, Sainsbury’s, Optare, Eddie Stobart, Kingspan and Legal & General Homes.

The development was kick-started with £2.95m infrastructure facility from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership and Government’s Growing Places’ Fund.

Jeremy Nolan, a director at Glentrool, commented: “We are tremendously excited that we have now started work on site. The success of Sherburn as a destination for high-quality occupiers has underlined the strength of the location, both in terms of the labour force and transport links. Now Sherburn2 will add to that success.

“Our development, which is already attracting strong interest from potential occupiers, will lead to significant inward investment – both during the construction phase over the course of the next few years and for many years to come.

“The initial work, carried out by our main contractors Peter Duffy of Wakefield, will involve building a bridge at the entrance of the site and ensuring the infrastructure is in place so construction of the logistics and warehousing units, which range from 35,000 sq ft to 575,000 sq ft can begin the moment a deal is signed.”

“A funding package for the finance of the construction has been secured which will facilitate the rapid delivery of bespoke buildings on a design and build basis.”

Councillor Mark Crane, leader of Selby District Council, added: “Sherburn2 is a fantastic opportunity for our district, and businesses locating there will be able to benefit from the things that make our area a great place to do business.

“Situated right in the heart of Yorkshire with easy links to the national road and rail network, with a skilled local workforce, we know this new business space will appeal to range of different business types.

“It is developments such as this which help to bring new growth and job opportunities for people in our district – that’s why Selby District Council has been working alongside Glentrool to help make this happen.”

David Dickson, chair of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership’s Infrastructure Board, which directs investments in key sites and infrastructure to grow the local economy, said: “With the potential to create 2,550 new jobs, we are delighted to see work starting to take place on site.

“With its location on our A1(M) and A19 growth corridor the site offers businesses quick access to essential routes to the north which we are hoping will be very attractive for our growing manufacturing, warehousing and logistics sector in particular.”

Mike Dove, a partner with property consultancy Dove Haigh Phillips, commented: “This is one of the most significant new development sites in the Yorkshire region, both in terms of the jobs it will create and the inward investment it will attract.

“It is superbly located with Yorkshire’s excellent motorway network only minutes away, and midway between the cities of Leeds and York, with Selby and Tadcaster close by. There are also excellent rail links.

“During the past four years, Glentrool have demonstrated remarkable vision and commercial confidence to plan one of the largest new employment and business parks to emerge in Yorkshire.”