Construction work has now begun at Malling Brooks to create 75,000 sq ft of purpose built, employment space for light industrial businesses in Lewes. Enabling works began last week to help prepare the ground for new buildings, which will start to go up at the end of the year.
Said Clive Wilding, from Santon North Street, “The site will provide accommodation for businesses which need to relocate or expand in the town and will also attract new businesses into the town, creating long term sustainable jobs, giving employers a future to invest further and grow their businesses to create more jobs .
“We have already signed up several local companies which we are building specific suitable new facilities and are receiving many expressions of interest from companies elsewhere who can see the benefit of being located in Lewes.”
Leader of Lewes District Council, Cllr Rob Blackman, visited the site this week to see how work was progressing. He said, “It is exciting to see this project moving forward, which will help realise our goal of creating new jobs close to the centre of Lewes. Lewes needs new, high quality, flexible employment floorspace which is safe from flooding. This will give our businesses the confidence to invest and grow.”
Continuing their policy of working with local Sussex businesses, Santon North Street has contracted Betaland Ltd, based in Upper Beeding, to carry out the enabling works.
Said John Hudson, Director of Betaland, “We have been adhering to strict environmental codes of practice in the process of re-profiling the site and are re-using wood and materials to create an ecological buffer around the site, making a perfect habitat for wildlife.”
Continued Clive Wilding, “This is the first step in a major regeneration programme for the town, not only providing new space for new businesses, but also helping to relocate existing businesses when the regeneration of the North Street Quarter starts – so they can be given long term security and grow and expand their businesses in Lewes.”
Santon North Street and Lewes District Council submitted a joint planning application in March to regenerate the Phoenix Industrial Estate and create the North Street Quarter, which proposes to include 416 new homes, 40% of them (165) affordable, vital town flood defences, new riverside public spaces and walkways. Combined with Malling Brooks, it will provide 140,000 sq ft of well-designed workspace, accommodating 475 sustainable, registered jobs. More information at www.northstreetqtr.co.uk
Businesses interested in finding out more about the opportunities at Malling Brooks should contact Oakley Commercial on 01273 688882.
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Media enquiries: Paula Seager at Natural PR, Tel: 01273 857242 or Email: paula@naturalpr.biz
