Developer to create “best business park Wakefield has ever had” with £1.3m acquisition

A development site on the outskirts of Wakefield has been acquired by a local property specialist in a £1.3m deal.

Yorkshire-based property company Frank Marshall Estates has purchased the four-acre parcel of land at Flanshaw Way close to Junction 41 of the M1 from Flanshaw Property Ltd.

The firm plans to develop the land in two phases; the first comprising 49,000 sq ft of industrial and office space including a seven unit Nano Park, and the second featuring a further 30,000 sq ft of industrial space.

Jimmy Marshall of Frank Marshall Estates commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity to create much-needed employment and business space for Wakefield.

“We estimate that the park, once it is fully developed out, will maintain 200 new and sustainable jobs, providing a substantial boost to the area’s economy.

“We have a proven record of developing successful business parks and Nano Parks in West Yorkshire and this gives us the confidence and the belief that we can attract quality occupiers to this site.”

Duffy Ltd and the company originally bought the site with the purpose of developing it for partial future use by Peter Duffy Ltd (PDL).

Rob Hudson of Peter Duffy explained: “Remaining within Wakefield, and needing to maintain good road links, were essential to PDL’s requirements and the site at Flanshaw was the only real option available at the time, although it was bigger than we needed.

“Throughout the purchase and enabling works process, interaction with FME has been excellent and we have worked closely with them to both overcome issues and meeting the requirements for the planned future developments.”

Rob Oliver of property consultancy Avison Young added: “We were pleased to have been instructed by Peter Duffy to market these plots. Given their proximity to the motorway network, the interest in speculative development and their flexibility of development, we knew there would be substantial interest.

“We are delighted that Frank Marshall Estates have bought the land and expect their proposed development will be well received by the local occupational market. We look forward to working with them as they bring the whole development forward.”