Wilton Makes Two New Senior Hires in its Development Team


Wilton Developments has appointed Nick Child as Development Director and Richard Squire as Development Manager to its Leeds based Development team headed by Managing Director Jason Stowe.
Nick Child has held Director level roles in some of the region’s leading developers including Shepherd Developments and most recently Clugston Estates. Richard Squire has had senior roles also with Clugston and Shepherds as well as other developers, they have a combined development and property experience of over 60 years– having been involved in some of the region’s major logistics and office development schemes.

The appointments come as Wilton is celebrating its 15th year of developing and investing in the Yorkshire and northern property markets. Managing Director Jason Stowe comments: “I’m delighted to announce that Nick and Richard have agreed to join us at Wilton. Its goes without saying that their experience, knowledge and contacts will be invaluable as we take Wilton into the new decade. We have an enviable forward pipeline of projects including some 3.45million sq ft of potential logistics space, 750 residential strategic land housing plots, a major city centre office redevelopment along with our existing current projects which include the Enterprise 36 logistics scheme in Barnsley, of which Phase 1 is nearing completion. The company remains proudly Leeds and Yorkshire based, privately owned and well funded and the appointment of Nick and Richard is a further example of our commitment to the region and property investment.”


Breaking news – new deal to acquire company


Wilton Developments Ltd (WDL) is pleased to confirm that they have acquired Clugston Estates Limited (CEL) 50% share in its successful Barmston Developments Ltd (BDL) Joint Venture. WDL now has 100% ownership of BDL. Barmston Developments has successfully developed a number of high profile projects across the north of England, including a 426,000 sq ft distribution facility for Vantec Europe, a managed workspace centre for City of Sunderland and a chemical distribution facility for Brenntag in Sunderland.

Current projects within BDL include the successful 70 acre Turbine Business Park in Sunderland adjacent to Nissan and the 26 acre Enterprise 36 Business Park off J36 of the -M1, where Barmston is currently on-site with 3 buildings totalling 176,000 sq ft.

Jason Stowe, Managing Director of Wilton Developments “buying in the other 50% of our JV was the natural decision to preserve what has been a very successful JV. The projects that we have on-site and in the pipeline are broadly in line with the model of Wilton Developments and we are delighted to be able to continue these through to completion. Wilton is celebrating 15 years of developing and investing in the North of England, we remain privately owned and well-funded and this decision to acquire full control of Barmston is indicative of our intent to be here for the long term. It is very much business as usual for these projects.”

James Clark of KPMG, joint administrator of Clugston Limited, said “This sale is a positive outcome for the exciting property development opportunities within Barmston, with the sale to Wilton being a natural home for the shares and representing a good deal for the creditors of Clugston Estates.”

Wilton was advised by James Bulloss at Grant Thornton and Michael Taylor at Walker Morris, Clugston Estates Limited was advised by Thomas Swiers and James Clark of KPMG, and Jonathan Dunkley and Harry Rose of Womble Bond Dickinson.

 


ARTISTIC TALENT IN LEEDS SHOWCASED AT 10 SOUTH PARADE


Leading Yorkshire property developers Wilton Developments have linked up with Leeds College of Art to install some stunning artwork at the award-winning 10 South Parade in Leeds, on behalf of the buildings owners East Parade Ltd.

10 South Parade, one of the most distinctive office buildings in central Leeds, has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment, leaving just 5,600 sq ft available to lease A crucial part of this refurbishment are six works of art, which showcase the talent of the students at the College of Art and reflect the history and culture of Leeds.

Elli Whitefoot of Leeds College or Art commented: “At Leeds College of Art, we work with many external organisations on projects and commissions, to provide our students with experience of answering live briefs in a professional capacity.

“We were really pleased when Wilton Developments approached us, interested in utilising our students’ talent to provide six pieces of artwork for the refurbishment at 10 South Parade.

“The brief was open to final year students studying BA (Hons) Fine Art, who were asked to submit concept designs which referenced Leeds City Centre, 10SP as a building and commerce in the city.

“Four students were chosen to present their concepts to a panel made up of representatives of Wilton Developments and Leeds College of Art and, following consultation and fantastic feedback, all four students were then chosen to produce the six pieces of artwork. This has been a great opportunity to showcase our students’ artwork and an experience they have benefited greatly from,”

The students were: Christine Cheseldine, James Taylor, Kingston Poplar and Lilly Sutton Parsons.

Jason Stowe, managing director of Wilton Developments, said: “We are really pleased to team up with Leeds College of Art and to encourage and nurture local artistic talent. The artwork of the students is of the highest quality, perfectly complimenting the particular ambience of the building.

“10 South Parade has recently had an imaginative light refurbishment, following the radical overhaul of the building which we undertook when we bought it seven years ago. So today it is fresh and vibrant, providing quality office space in the very centre of Leeds.”

10 South Parade has previously won the North of England, Wales and Northern Ireland British Council for Offices Award for best Refurbished/Recycled Workplace.

The project was praised for transforming a tired 1970s office building into a Grade A modern office building which is taking on and successfully competing against the very best brand new buildings in Leeds City Centre.

It now delivers 36,000 sq ft, over five floors, of high quality, air-conditioned accommodation with Grade A specification including a new glazed fourth floor featuring balcony areas, raised floors and suspended ceilings.

Eamon Fox, partner with global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, who represent Wilton Developments, said: “10 South Parade is a tremendous example of a high-quality city centre office building, which has stood the test of time.

“The recent relaunch of the building, after the refurbishment, highlighted its strengths. The relaunch also showcased the exciting collaboration between Wilton Developments and Leeds College of Art, which saw some iconic images of Leeds, created by college students, installed in the public areas of the building.”

Mr Fox added: “The building is superbly located, in the prime office district close to many popular restaurants The main retail core is just around the corner and the Leeds city centre loop road runs past the property, which leads to the inner ring road and wider motorway network.”

Expanding transport planning and infrastructure design consultants SCP have recently taken 2,550 sq ft of quality office space, leaving just 5,600 sq ft available to lease.

The joint marketing agents for 10 South Parade are the Leeds office property consultancy WSB.

For further information, please contact Robert Beaumont of Robert Beaumont Associates on

01423 323139 or 07710 127713


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Celebration as £8million speculative EZ development completes


Wilton Developments has completed its £8million speculative development, Kinetic 45 in the heart of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone.

The 83,000 sq ft commercial development on Newmarket Lane, was delivered by a Yorkshire team including GMI Construction, JPG Engineers, Leeds based KPP architects, Rex Procter and Partners and CBRE. Langleys in York and Shulmans in Leeds provided legal and construction legal advice.

At an event on site this week, Jason Stowe, Managing Director of Wilton Developments said: “We delivered the first ever speculative development in the Enterprise Zone, Connex 45, which was swiftly let to Fed Ex and Perspex Distribution Ltd. This enabled us to recycle the receipts into this next project, again using a Yorkshire based design and construction team. This ensures that the investment Wilton Developments has made stays within the region, boosting the economy and creating local jobs.”

Kinetic 45 incorporates a standalone 60,000 sq ft industrial unit with high quality office space and two smaller units of 11,000 and 12,000 sq ft which can be combined to deliver 23,000 sq ft. All of the buildings have their own high quality office and reception facilities and are set with secure yards. Business Rates relief exist for new occupiers at this Enterprise Zone location.

Wilton Developments was joined by Leeds City Council and the Leeds City Region LEP at the completion ceremony on the four acre site.

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP) commented: “Kinetic 45 is the next phase in the evolution of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, which is a key part of the Region’s Strategic Economic Plan. Over the last 12 months, the Enterprise Zone has attracted a number of international occupiers including Amazon and Perspex Distribution, and I’m sure with this latest high quality development by Wilton Developments, further international businesses will follow. Through developments such as this we can create new jobs for the local community and ultimately deliver upon the region’s economic potential.”

The Enterprise Zone comprises 142 hectares of prime employment land adjacent to the M1 motorway, just two miles from Leeds City Centre and is an ideal location for manufacturing and supply chain companies. Fully developed it has the ability to foster more than 9,500 jobs.

Wilton Developments has appointed CBRE’s Leeds Industrial Agency team as sole agent on Kinetic 45. Mike Baugh Senior Director from CBRE said: “Kinetic 45 represents the only large scale speculative development taking place in the Leeds area currently and we are delighted to be working with Wilton Developments on this project.  Given the quality of the scheme under construction, the lack of supply of modern units in the Leeds area and the Enterprise Zone location we are already seeing a good level of interest from the occupier market”