£80 million investment at Hawks Park

Detailed planning consent has been granted at a pioneering 70-acre employment park at Garforth, near Leeds, on Junction 47 of the M1. It is estimated that the £80 million Hawks Park project will create between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs when it is fully developed. 

CalEast Global Logistics and development partner Barwood Developments have secured detailed planning consent from Leeds City Council for the first phase of development, which will provide a single 200,000 sq ft distribution/warehouse/industrial building on a 12-acre site; 120,000 sq ft of modern high-quality B1 office accommodation in nine buildings varying from 8,000 to 25,000 sq ft over 10 acres.

Work on the park’s infrastructure is on schedule to start later this year, enabling construction of the first 200,000 sq ft warehouse/industrial building able to begin as early as June 2010. 

Phase Two has outline planning for 535,000 sq ft and design principles approved already could accommodate a single building of up to 750,000 sq ft on 45 acres.

Alan Rudge, chairman of Northampton-based Barwood Developments, said: “Hawks Park is now open and ready for business and provides a tremendous opportunity for expanding, relocating and new businesses in Yorkshire and beyond.

"We are now able to respond rapidly, positively and flexibly to market demands and create quality freehold and leasehold bespoke solutions to suit the needs of occupiers”. 

Jean Dent, director of development at Leeds City Council, said: “Leeds is one of the UK's leading business centres and this investment by CalEast Global Logistics and Barwood Developments is a significant addition to the city's locations for business.

The Leeds out-of-town market combines proximity to the city centre with direct access to the motorway network, making it an ideal base for companies serving regional and national markets."

Dove Haigh Philips in Leeds and Strutt&Parker in London are the retained agents. CalEast Global Logistics are advised by LaSalle Investment Management.