June 4, 2023
Opus North and Bridges Fund Management (“Bridges”) has hit a key milestone at its Harrogate 47 sustainable employment development with the commencement of Phase 2 infrastructure works to enable the delivery of the first two units in late Summer this year.
Planning permission was secured from Harrogate Borough Council last year for a low carbon, BREEAM ‘Excellent’ development with over 600,000 square feet of employment space for office, hi-tech/hybrid and logistics uses, as well as amenity uses, within a landscaped environment.
The ESG led scheme, which has the potential to support 2,000 jobs, is set on a 45-acre site near Harrogate at J47 of the A1(M) in North Yorkshire.
The first phase of enabling and infrastructure works has now completed and leading engineering firm Spencer Group has been appointed on the Phase 2 works which will create the all important access and services to the plots, finalising the infrastructure to enable delivery of the first two units totalling circa 120,000 sq ft. The works will complete in Autumn 2023.
Ryan Unsworth, Development Director of Opus North, said: “Since planning permission was secured we have been busy on site undertaking the first phase of infrastructure. This crucial second phase will deliver an adoptable highway to serve the whole site in addition to the services for the plots. It is great to see the scheme taking shape and we are looking forward to starting works on the first two units this summer.”
Guy Bowden, Partner at Bridges Fund Management, said: “This new sustainable development will make a significant contribution to the local and regional economy with substantial job creation and ESG led employment space for businesses within the region and those wanting to enter it. We are committed to pressing ahead with the works to enable the first two units to be available for occupation next year.”
Opus North is recognised as one of the most active and successful developers in Yorkshire, with extensive development delivery experience. Bridges Fund Management specialises in investing in the transition to a more inclusive and sustainable economy: it supports property solutions that help to reduce emissions, regenerate communities, and revitalise industrial and business spaces.
Appointed industrial agents for Harrogate 47 are CBRE and Gent Visick, with the office enquiries directed to the office agency teams at CBRE and Knight Frank.