New Cheltenham business park still needed, says chamber adviser
A CHELTENHAM firm is celebrating after bucking the trend and spending a six-figure sum expanding its site.
The move by Adey Professional Heating Solutions has highlighted the need for firms to be in the right location and led to fresh calls for the town to have a new business park.
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Marketing manager Haimish Mead and general manager Kelvin Stevens of Adey outside the former Seat garage
Having created its head office at the former Amethyst Honda garage in Gloucester Road, it plans to move into the former Seat showroom next door in the new few weeks.
Kelvin Stevens, Adey's managing director, said the firm was more than happy to stay in Cheltenham rather than seek a bigger site elsewhere.
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He said: "There's a growing range of our products. This is a fabulous site. It impresses everyone that pulls up here. I don't think there's another site quite like it in Cheltenham."
Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood welcomed the firm's decision to develop the site.
He said: "I'm always delighted to hear about Cheltenham businesses expanding and it's great to hear that Adey made such a positive decision to commit real investment to staying in Cheltenham. It's a real vote of confidence."
Robert Duncan, planning adviser for Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce, said a new business park is still needed for Cheltenham.
He believes space for companies to expand is essential for growth – even after a year which saw a number of companies expand in the town.
Mr Duncan said: "It's very good news and there are a number of companies already in Cheltenham which are doing extremely well.
"But Adey is capable of expanding because there is space for them to do so. Not everyone can do that.
"Though the economy is not great, we've got to make sufficient provision for land to encourage new employers in and let people here expand in the area or we will become a commuter town."
Last year, he warned the only option open to the authorities was to find a spot for a new business park, or risk seeing big name firms leaving Cheltenham for good.
Yesterday he said his comments still stood, despite the success story of Adey.
Adey moved to Gloucester Road two-and-a-half years ago, and plans to use its new site for training and conferences.
It employs 40 people directly and there are 70 other people whose jobs are linked to the company. Plans for a change of use of the site have been lodged with the borough council.
OPINION, P8
Comments
by xlitho
Monday, January 21 2013, 1:32AM
“New Cheltenham Hospital is 'needed'.”
by Glos_Lad34
Saturday, January 19 2013, 1:14PM
“Cheltenham doesn't need another business park just move into Kingsditch business park theres lots of room there.”
by MrGarnet
Saturday, January 19 2013, 12:29PM
“You only have to drive round Kingsditch Industrial Estate there are lots of empty units.
It used to be a thriving trading estate.”
by tishwash
Saturday, January 19 2013, 11:39AM
“There's loads of empty properties that could become office space without making a new business park, such as how YMCA have moved into Comet in Gloucester.
I'm amazed the council are happy with Adey having so much parking too, guess the restrictions apply to some businesses but not others.”
by AndyPrestbury
Saturday, January 19 2013, 11:36AM
“There are a lot of empty sites in current business parks in Cheltenham already. As a business owner in the area I am constantly keeping an eye on available sites, mainly as a reason to keep my rent down with my current landlord, and there are still plenty available, small and large.”