Siemens Plc, which is developing world-class wind turbine manufacturing and assembly facilities in Hull, is to take a 50,000 square foot unit at one of the city’s best known business parks.
The company, which is investing £310m the development at Alexandra Dock with partners Associated British Ports, has taken the space on the Kingston International Business Park, off Hedon Road in the east of the city, to use as an interim logistics and distribution centre for its Siemens Wind Power Service UK Onshore and Offshore operations.
The park owner, Hull-based Wykeland Group, is delighted to have Siemens on board. The company’s Head of Asset Management, Grant Edmondson, said: “Kingston International is one of the city’s most sought-after business parks and the arrival of Siemens means the park is now fully occupied.
“We understood Siemens’ requirement for flexibility and tailored the lease deal to enable them to have the logistics and distribution centre up and running well in advance of their new-build facility at the nearby Alexandra Dock becoming operational. Wykeland are currently undertaking key facilitation works in advance of Siemens’ move-in date.
“It also means we now have 100 per cent occupancy on this 525,000 sq. ft. estate, which is already home to some major employers, including Paneltex, Harrison Solway, Hurst Plastics and Tata Steel”.
The business park, which extends to more than 30 acres, is close to Alexandra Dock and only 3.5 miles east of the city centre, providing excellent links to the docks complex, the city centre and the national motorway network.
Shaun Cray, Siemens’ general manager, real estate and construction, for the Hull project, said: “Taking these premises is the latest indication of our commitment to investment in the local community and with local suppliers.
“The proximity to our future home at Alexandra Dock made this the obvious choice for Siemens. We are looking forward to taking occupation of the building and entering into the next phase of our growth plans in Hull.”
Siemens intends to appoint a local supplier to carry out fit-out works at the premises, which will be in use from April 2015 until it is replaced by a permanent facility forming part of the Alexandra Dock development.
The company is currently in the process of recruiting for six stores and servicing positions, which will be among the first operational roles appointed as part of the Siemens investment in Hull. After training, the new recruits will be based at Kingston International Business Park, prior to the move to Alexandra Dock. The full development will see Siemens eventually employ 1,000 people in Hull.
The Wykeland Group has an extensive property portfolio in the Humber region, including Europarc, North East Lincolnshire’s flagship business park, Bridgehead at Hessle, Melton West adjacent to the A63 to the west of the city, and Flemingate, the new commercial development at Beverley, which is attracting some of the country’s leading retailers and leisure operators.
