Industry leading water technology company Eliquo Hydrok Ltd is one of four growing companies to expand into a recently completed Barnsley industrial development.

The specialist Cornwall-based engineering firm, which provides innovative water and wastewater treatment solutions across the UK and Ireland, has taken 16,695 sqft at Kestrel Park as it looks to double its production of water treatment products to cope with a burgeoning order book.

Its investment in the site will see the firm, which celebrates its 30th year in business next month, increase its local employee numbers by around 50 per cent, taking its national total to 240 in the next nine months.

William Mackveley, Sales and Business Development Director at Eliquo Hydrok, said: “We're seeing huge growth in the demand for our products and services nationwide and needed a larger space to grow into. From our original base in a garage, we have grown into an industry-leading water technology company serving the UK and Irish water companies, including Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and Northumbrian Water.

“We will now be able to manufacture and assemble our products on site, create extra jobs and double our production with the move to this unit. Its central location and HGV access was pivotal to us choosing Kestrel Park, and it allows us to build on our established workforce in South Yorkshire. We will not be passive occupants with this move either; we want to inspire young people and others to become involved in the water sector.”

Eliquo Hydrok joins Podopro UK Ltd, Yorkshire Housing and 1st Land Services at the £12m speculatively-built industrial development just off Junction 36 of the M1, which finished last month.

The deals, brokered by Knight Frank Sheffield office and Smiths Barnsley, see podiatry product supplier Podopro UK Ltd lease 16,070 sqft while social housing partnership Yorkshire Housing moves into 3,415 sqft, joining leading civil engineering and brickwork company 1st Land Services, which will occupy 3,010 sqft on site.

These are the first occupiers to move into the seven-unit development built by regional Carnell Management Services (CMS), backed by SYMCA utilising £3m of funding from South Yorkshire’s Investment Zone Funding allocated to JESSICA with support from Barnsley Council’s Property Investment Fund.

The development, where just three units remain in size from 6,665 sqft to 21,535 sqft, delivers much-needed, high-quality industrial and warehouse units of this size, which are attractive to both expanding local companies as well as inward investors, and is expected to generate 185 jobs in total.

Managing director of CMS Martyn Carnell said: “The development, and subsequent lettings, is confirmation of our commitment to the local area and our long-standing positive relationship with Barnsley Council.

"Our collaborative partnership and shared vision is key to the successful planning and implementation of the development, which has delivered another dynamic scheme to the local economy, relevant to occupiers looking to grow.”

Hazel Sykes, Business Investment Manager at Enterprising Barnsley, said: “It’s fantastic to see such strong early take-up at Kestrel Park, with four of the seven units already let shortly after completion. Welcoming businesses like Eliquo Hydrok, 1st Land Services, Yorkshire Housing and Podopro demonstrates the demand for high-quality, well-located space in Barnsley.

"With strong ongoing interest, the remaining units present a limited opportunity for occupiers looking to secure modern space in a competitive, well-connected location.”

Kestrel Park, near Hoyland off the A6195 Dearne Valley Parkway, has been built to meet BREEAM ‘Very Good’ sustainability standards and features solar panels, EV charging points, cycle parking, LED lighting and fully fitted offices/amenities, within a secure landscaped site.

Barnsley Council’s Property Investment Fund supports local property developers to deliver new commercial property developments to provide premises for expanding Barnsley businesses and attract new global businesses to the area. Since 2014, it has supported the creation of more than 400,000 sqft of commercial property, providing hundreds of jobs across the borough.

Rebecca Schofield, partner at Knight Frank in Sheffield and head of Yorkshire Industrial and Logistics, which is marketing the development for CMS with Smiths Chartered Surveyors, said: "Occupiers have been attracted to the location and the high specification of the units which includes high quality offices, and lighting to the warehouse meaning the units are immediately ready for occupation.

"The units have proved attractive to expanding local occupiers and inward investors into the area and it is positive to see four new tenants secured."

JESSICA funding, managed by CBRE on behalf of SYMCA, provides development debt funding for commercial property projects to support the provision of sustainable infrastructure developments, generating jobs and developing brownfield sites.

Jessica stands for Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas. More than £70m of SY JESSICA loans have levered in more than £300m of construction investment into the region and supported the delivery of 1.3m sqft of floorspace, accommodating over 6,500 jobs.

Kestrel Park follows other successful projects by CMS in the region including Nexus industrial park at Capitol Park, Junction 37, completed in 2019.

For further information on the remaining three units at Kestrel Park, please contact Rebecca Schofield at Knight Frank on 0114 272 9750 or Andrew Corbet of Smiths on 01226 298 456.