New Business Park Helps Growth
The growing
reputation of Ashford in Kent as a prime location for leading
national and international companies has been given another boost,
following completion of the first phase of a major new business
park development.
Eureka Park, just off Junction 9 of the M20, already has 300,000
sq ft of offices housing renowned companies such as Brakes, the
UK’s top food service supplier, and Coty Inc, the world’s largest
fragrance company.
The completion of Northdown, the first phase of the next 1.25
million sq ft of development at Eureka Park, significantly
increases the potential of this rapidly developing Ashford
location, providing 50,000 sq ft of units with enough floor space
to support up to 500 jobs.
Northdown, which is 70% sold or under offer, has already
attracted a number of major companies. Of the 10 office units
within Northdown, three have been sold and a further three are in
solicitors’ hands. A significant proportion of the committed
purchasers have come from outside of Ashford, a pattern that’s
continuing with new enquiries. The first occupiers are expected to
move in at the end of August.
Among those relocating to Northdown is Commidea, one of the UK’s
leading developers of card payment processing systems, which has
agreed to take 12,500 sq ft of office space. Commidea is relocating
from Maidstone in Kent and believes the move to a purpose-built
office in Ashford will support its planned growth for the
future.
Matthew Roots, marketing manager at Commidea, said: “Commidea’s
new office at Eureka Park is modern in design and reflects our
position as a leading IT company operating in the card payment
processing sector. In addition, close links to Europe and the fact
that Ashford is one of the fastest growing towns in the South East
supports Commidea’s strategy for growth.”
Abigail Raymond, acting managing director for Ashford’s Future,
the agency overseeing Ashford’s development, said: “The arrival of
more high-calibre companies at Eureka Park further strengthens
Ashford’s reputation as a high quality, world-class business
location.
“Eureka Park is now one of the most rapidly expanding business
developments in the South East. It will provide a huge boost to the
local economy and, with its capacity to provide up to 10,000 jobs
when fully developed, it will go a long way to helping Ashford meet
its target of creating 28,000 jobs by 2031.”
For further information about Ashford, ‘the growth town of
Kent’, visit the Ashford Best Placed
website or email Best
Placed.
Eureka Park is a joint venture between Quadrant Estates and
Trinity College Cambridge. The letting agents are Knight Frank,
Bidwells and Martine Waghorn. The architects for the Northdown
development are Scott Brownrigg. For details visit the
Quadrant website.
Media Release 0189/07
15/06/2007
This webpage was updated on
8/16/2010