Covering 35-acres of brownfield land split across five separate plots on the western sector of Aviation Business Park, the plans will kick start the creation of a 10 year development programme for new B1, B2, B8, business space and airside hangarage opportunities.
David Roberts, property development director, MAG Developments, said: "Aviation Business Park along with the Airport, is one of the most important employment locations in South East Dorset and is of significant strategic importance to the local economy, as recognised by the Local Authorities and the recently submitted bid for the new Local Enterprise Partnership. These plans provide a clear long-term strategy for the Business Park and following on from the £45m investment in new airport facilities, will complement existing stock on the estate, attracting investment through development opportunities that will provide quality industrial, office and warehousing accommodation."
Serving the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch conurbations, the Aviation Business Park currently supports over 185 businesses and around 2,500 jobs. It has maintained a high level of resilience through the economic downturn and has shown robustness in meeting demand for smaller industrial units and relocating larger units, with notable lettings recently completed including: 14,467-sqft to Talard Thai and 10,500-sqft to AIM Aviation. It is also home to a number of other high profile companies and specialist aviation uses including: Cobham, Honeywell, Siemens VAI, Meggitt, Babcock and Basepoint Business Centre.
In summer 2009 MAG Developments completed the 19,485sqft Cirrus Court development on Aviation Business Park, a 14-unit scheme that was fully let by the end of 2010. And in May 2011, it commenced construction on a new 36,000sqft facility pre-let to City Link Ltd (part of Rentokil Initial plc), due for occupation by November.
David Roberts, continued: "Demand still exists in the marketplace and we feel that having a more established planning strategy in place gives us the certainty, scope and flexibility to respond quickly to new opportunities, especially when the upturn in the economy arrives. We also recognise that the Park is occupied by a diversity of customers with a variety of different price-points in terms of rates, so rather than displacing existing tenants our aim is to help them grow and in doing-so create new employment opportunities for local people."
Aviation Business Park is situated approximately five-miles to the northeast of Bournemouth town centre, adjacent to the Hampshire and Dorset border. It is a favourable location for many industrial occupiers within the A31-M27 Corridor. And, uniquely, offers sites with direct access to the runway.
A decision on the planning application is expected by the end of the year.
