Hall still attraction

Mar 3 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

BILLINGHAM’S Belasis Hall Business Park is bucking the trend in the commercial property sector with the letting of new office space to Ashbrook Construction Services.

Ashbrook has relocated from the town’s Leeholme Road Industrial Estate to a 1,500sq ft unit down the road at Belasis Park on a six-year lease.

Most commercial property landlords have been hit hard by the recession and new lettings have ground to a virtual halt.

According to The Times, Land Securities, the biggest commercial property company in the UK, has been unable to let a single office building since September last year.

But according to Hazel Waters, director of Belasis Hall Business Park owner St George’s Securities (SGS), well established sites with no capital investment costs to recover, are doing well because they can offer competitive rates.

Mike Harrison, of Ashbrook Construction Services, said: “We still have our joinery shop and storage facility at Leeholme, but our expansion meant we were at bursting point and needed more office and parking space.

“Belasis Park is ideal because it is close to our other facilities and has excellent transport links.

“Our vans go all over the country, so being close to major roads like the A19 and A1M is perfect for our business.”

Belasis was originally a joint venture between ICI and One NorthEast to create a base for smaller supply companies.

The premises were built as hybrid units providing a mixture of office, laboratory and warehouse space. New phases have been added over the years, with SGS taking over the site three years ago.

James Devany, of Sanderson Weatherall, negotiated the lease arrangements with Ashbrook on behalf of SGS said a combinatio of park land setting, quality accommodation and strategic location were the reason so many diverse businesses had chosen to locate there.