REAL ESTATE
Delighted - Mandale Group commercial property manager , Harriet Spalding
HYBRID HOMES ON CUE
New units offer perfect solution to changing workplace requirements
A
property group which started life making snooker tables is rolling out an exciting business space concept .
Mandale Group started as a manufacturing company , Stockton Pool & Snooker , making pool and snooker tables during the sport ’ s boom of the 1980s . Having moved premises a number of times during the company ’ s operational years , the business accumulated several commercial properties . And when the sport ’ s popularity waned , Stockton Pool & Snooker ’ s natural evolution was into commercial property – the company ’ s main assets . Mandale Group , as it is known today , was born .
Over the 40 years Mandale has been in the commercial property market , the types of property and nature of the businesses occupying space has changed dramatically . As one of the original investors in , and developers of , Teesdale Business Park in Thornaby , the plan for that area was offices , offices , offices . Everyone worked in an office , and the rest of the North-East was one of the main locations in the UK for call centres . Indeed , it is widely known that northern accents are among the country ’ s favourites .
The rise of the internet , and with it the simplification of communications , meant it wasn ’ t essential for staff to work in the office five days a week . It also meant they didn ’ t even need to live locally or suffer what can be an arduous commute into work each day .
The ease with which the internet is accessed nowadays , and the slick and efficient nature of the devices we use to access the world wide web , has forever changed the way people live . And as the way people live changes , businesses are required to adapt or fail - “ survival of the fittest ”.
Everyone is bored of hearing about Covid now , but it has a lot to answer for . To stay on topic , let ’ s concentrate on the way lockdowns and social distancing accelerated the seismic shift workplaces were already experiencing and reinforced shoppers ’ online purchasing habits .
According to the ONS in 2021 , 37 per cent of businesses have now adopted hybrid working ( a mix of home and office working ) as part of their standard operations . The lockdowns taught businesses that there was no loss of productivity by providing staff with that increased flexibility , but showed that they could probably economise on business space requirements .
It ’ s estimated that 29 per cent of all UK retail sales were attributed to online purchases in 2021 , enhancing the marketplace for smaller , independent traders without the overheads that a high street shop brings , while increasing choice for buyers .
Being one of Teesside ’ s largest developer-landlords , and having properties throughout the UK , Mandale started to notice trends in business space needs - and there was a demand that simply wasn ’ t being met . Enter the “ hybrid unit ”.
A brand-new concept for business space , it comprises two storeys - the ground being warehousing with an electronic roller shutter door , and the first floor being office space , but with the added benefit of that floor constructed to be high load bearing , enabling it to also be used for storage if necessary .
These units are fully self-contained with their own toilet and kitchenette , and are decorated and carpeted , ready for any business to move in and start operating virtually immediately .
Perfect for online businesses , satellite depots , businesses that have out grown their garage or , conversely , streamlined operations , the space is flexible and can be whatever it needs to be to suit needs .
The units are installed with a threephase power and superfast fibre broadband supply to each unit , fully programmable electric panel heaters ( gas is so last year !) and LED lighting . They are also designed to fall under the business rates threshold ( for qualifying businesses ), so qualifying them for exemption .
Historically , business units , particularly offices and warehouses , were often built to fit a requirement , with a commitment on paper before development commenced . With this came long lead times , a dependence on the supply chain sticking to committed delivery dates and , inevitably , completion dates slipping .
With the simple nature of the new
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