Hellens starts environmentally friendly scheme in Washington

Nov 16 2007 By The Journal

CONSTRUCTION has began on a new environmentally friendly commercial property development in Washington.

The scheme to be known as Teal Farm Park is located on the Pattinson Industrial Estate and is being undertaken by Hellens Development, part of the Hellens Group, Sunderland’s largest construction and property company.

The units will be the first phase of the redevelopment of the former Cape Insulation Premises into a 40-acre mixed-use development in accordance with current government planning objectives for the re-use of previously developed land. The site is adjacent to the existing Teal Farm residential estate and as part of the planning Hellens have also received consent for 18 acres of residential land of which nine acres has been sold to national house builder Barratt.

Teal Farm Park will initially comprise 55,000 sq ft and will include a new HQ office and depot for the Hellens Group and nine speculative industrial units that will be offered to the market to let. The units will range in size from 3,500-7,000 sq ft with rents expected to be £5.50-£6 per sq ft.

Richard Scott Development Manager at Hellens said: “The commencement of work on Teal Farm Park marks the end of over three years hard work by everyone at Hellens Development. The finished units will provide self contained, high specification accommodation, be built to BREEAM very good standard and ideally suited for a range of uses including production and storage and distribution. The quality of units being provided and their close proximity to both the A1 and A19 will make them appealing to occupiers looking for new business premises in Washington.”

The units are due for completion in May 2008.

The second phase of works has also recently commenced with the demolition and reclamation of the original Cape Manufacturing plant to make way for the new housing by Barratt. Hellens Contracts, the contracting division of The Hellens Group is undertaking the work and has kept the Teal Farm Residents Association fully apprised of the situation to ally any fears residents may have about the demolition and reclamation. Hellens Contracts has significant expertise in the reclamation of Brownfield Land for numerous private and public organisations.

Gavin Cordwell-Smith, Chief Executive of the Hellens Group, said: “These are hugely exciting times for both Sunderland and Hellens. We as a company have grown from a relatively small landscaping, civils and earthmoving contractor into one of the most prominent multi-discipline contractor and developers in the North-East in the space of a few years. The group is focused on all aspects of regeneration now from demolition and reclamation, civils and construction, landscaping and sports and play facility construction.

“The group prides itself on ‘improving our environment’ in everything it does. The mixed-use scheme at Washington will be one of the largest private sector regeneration schemes in the North-East over the next few years, utilising all the group’s skills and expertise. We are particularly proud that the group started and continues to be based within the City of Sunderland and we also wish the city every success with its continued regeneration.”

For more information on the Hellens Group please visit our website www.hellens.co.uk or call (0191) 526-3619 and ask to speak to Gemma Matthews.