Business park at former army garage to be upgraded

ACQUISITION: Dale Gooderham, asset manager at Allenby Commercial, at the Chamberlain Business Centre

A former army garage which has operated as a business park for the last 20 years is to be upgraded in the latest regeneration project by new owners Allenby Commercial.

Chamberlain Business Centre, in east Hull, is home to around 60 small businesses operating in a wide range of sectors. Allenby, a family firm based in the city, has now completed the acquisition of the site and will embark on a phased programme of investment designed to add to the 100,000 sq ft of business space.

Dale Gooderham, asset manager at Allenby Commercial, said: “Everything we do is aimed at creating business opportunities in the local community and this is an excellent location for that.

“There are a lot of other businesses nearby, some of them major employers, there is new investment in neighbouring sites and in infrastructure and there are some well-established residential areas on our doorstep.”

The acquisition for an undisclosed sum comes only three months after Allenby Commercial completed the purchase of former Bonus Electrical premises in Willerby, which will become the third in the company’s Trade Yard sites. Beverley and Scunthorpe are both now at full capacity.

Allenby also operates award-winning retail at Paragon Arcade, in Hull city centre, and a combination of modern office developments at sites across the city including Worx, Chariot House, The Bloc and the Grade II Listed Bayles House and Danish Buildings.

Chamberlain Business Park becomes the most versatile site in Allenby Commercial’s portfolio, offering space for office, industrial and manufacturing use and with activities including distribution, modular buildings, flooring, specialist vehicle repair and fabrication.

Most of the site is under cover but there are also some small yard areas and there are containers which will be available to rent. Allenby Commercial will soon begin a gradual improvement of the site, with one of the early priorities the refurbishment of a dilapidated unit of 8,000 square feet.

Mr Gooderham said: “We understand that years ago the business centre was an army garage where damaged or broken down tanks, lorries and other vehicles were brought to be repaired but for the last 20 years it has been a business centre and now the owners have decided it’s surplus to requirements.

“It’s a good, busy site in a great location with a high occupancy level and is ripe for development to bring the facilities up to date and to bring some of the smaller units back to life.”