Growing venture destined to buzz

Sep 7 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal

A BUILDING firm which created a business complex on land bought from One NorthEast has announced plans for a second phase of works.

Whitfield Building Services (WBS) has bought a further two acres of land at Meadowfield Industrial Estate near Durham from the development agency.

The sale follows a deal WBS struck with One NorthEast (ONE) last year, in which the company bought two acres on which it built an office block housing four business units and a bistro.

Kevin Whitfield, managing director of Whitfield Business Services, which is also at Meadowfield Industrial Estate, said: “I am delighted we have been able to negotiate a further two acres of land from ONE.

“We said last year that if the first site was successful, we’d be interested in buying more land. This has certainly been the case, with Durham County Council taking possession of the last 650sq m unit in January next year.

“The first office block has proved extremely popular with local companies and I am confident this second development can be just as successful.”

Whitfield Business Services was founded in 1967. In 1988 it branched out into home development when it bought four town houses in Durham. Today it employs more than 140 people and has a £7m turnover.

ONE acting regeneration director Ed Rowley said: “The development of the land purchased from the agency last year has become a thriving business complex which met the agency’s quality design standards.

“Because of its success, Whitfield Building Services approached us about the possibility of buying a further two acres of land and I’m pleased to say this has now become a reality.”

Phase two is funded by the Allied Irish Bank (AIB) and will be managed by Mr Whitfield’s holding company Wellsprings Properties Ltd. The building will consist of four 650sq m units and two 350sq m units, with a development cost of £4.2m. It should be ready in winter 2009.

Mr Whitfield said: “Some people say that there’s no future in developments like this, but I think we’ve proved that certainly isn’t the case.

“In fact, we’ve already had interest from Durham City Council based purely on our plans, which is encouraging, and is a strong indicator that this development can become a buzzing business complex.”