Planning permission has been approved for 35 business units to be built at Exeter’s growing SkyPark.
Exeter-headquartered Burrington Estates purchased the site at SkyPark in 2020 with a commitment to deliver high quality new business units in Exeter.
The units will be built to the BREEAM “excellent” benchmark and provide flexible space of from 1,000sq ft with the option of half- or full-mezzanine floor.
Providing new employment opportunities in the area, construction of the units is due to commence in February 2021 with completion anticipated in August 2021.
Burrington Estates commercial managing director Matthew Bennett said: “We are delighted to get the go ahead for this development allowing us to provide superior options for start-ups and small to medium businesses looking to expand.
“We are also proud that Burrington has a presence at SkyPark, the flagship business park development in the South West.”
In line with SkyPark’s highly sustainable aims, particularly with using renewable energy and energy efficiency goals, Burrington Estates will include solar PV and EV charging points, insulated panel technology to reduce operational costs and covered bicycle storage to encourage sustainable transport. The development also includes a café unit, available for purchase or lease.
With what Burrington Estates called “an impressive show of positivity and optimism from the business community”, 90% of the units have already been reserved. Two further phases of varying unit sizes are set for delivery in 2022.
Development manager Charles Berry, who took the lead on the project, said: “To attract such a strong demand from SMEs for the business units underlines the need for this type of high-specification, sustainable development in the South West.
“Alongside superb quality, businesses are clearly also looking for premises that focus on sustainability and flexibility.”
Spanning more than 100 acres, Skypark has been dubbed Exeter’s new generation of business park, combining industrial, office, and distribution space.
SkyPark is sited close to the M5 and neighbouring businesses include Lidl distribution centre, DPD, Amazon, LiveWest, ASOC and Exeter Airport.
SkyPark is part of Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone providing business rate relief for new and growing businesses, worth up to £55,000 per business year for five years.
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SkyPark is being developed by Burrington Estates Limited which is at the forefront of high-quality new developments in the West Country and beyond.
Meanwhile Burrington Estates has begun to modernise Plymouth’s Eurotech Park business estate with large-scale demolition already underway.
The company, which acquired the vast building in Burrington Way, Honicknowle, in late 2019 is planning to transform the former 1970s electronics factory block and replace it with 30 modern industrial business units.
The project was due to start in early 2020 but was, like many things, severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and Government guidelines.
But the scheme is very much continuing with the last tenants of the old building leaving in November 2020 and demolition work now well advanced.
