The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 2: Winter 2016/17 | Page 29

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

HPH DRIVE BUSINESS GROWTH ACROSS THE SOUTH WEST
Bath-based property experts HPH Ltd are hoping investment will help drive continued business growth.
2016 may have been an uncertain year but
the company, which has 60 years’ experience
building and managing commercial property in
Bath and across Wiltshire, has continued to put
the needs of its occupiers first with continued
investment in bricks and mortar.
Over the last 12 months HPH Ltd has been
supporting traders in Kingsmead Square, Bath,
where the company owns property, who want
to expand their offer to customers by providing
alfresco dining. The firm has also been helping
the owners of the Award Winning Scallop Shell,
on Monmouth Street, to create a new first floor
dining area.
Managing director Lindsay Holdoway, said:
“HPH has always offered more than just the
usual landlord/tenant relationship and during
uncertain times this special relationship is
more important than ever. We want to see the
companies we work with thrive and it has been
our pleasure this year to assist, where possible,
in helping them realise their business ambitions.
Bath has an eclectic and prosperous business
community and we are proud to say that HPH
tenants are part of this.”
HPH Ltd has also been able to further
advance its green agenda after securing
a loan through Lloyds Bank’s Commercial
Real Estate Green Lending Initiative, which
offers companies a margin discount if certain

sustainability targets are met.
The five-year funding package involves a
commitment from HPH to further reduce its
carbon footprint and continue its programme
of introducing energy efficiency measures
through the refurbishment of its properties.
Lindsay added :“As a landlord we have
a responsibility towards our tenants. This
additional funding from Lloyds Bank will
help us continue our philosophy of creating
efficient and positive work spaces by lowering
energy consumption and reducing the use
of resources. Reducing the environmental
impact of our buildings, also reduces operating
costs and this financial saving is something
we are pleased to be able to pass on to our
occupants.”
Further afield HPH Ltd has invested in
office space at Bewley House, Chippenham,
and Bakers Yard in Trowbridge. These
refurbishments have not only led to new
occupiers but have improved the working
environments for existing tenants.
At its flagship scheme, Hawke Ridge
Business Park, HPH has already invested £2
million in ground works, including a new
roundabout, access roads, connection to mains
services, landscaping, bus shelters and new
signage. A Detailed Planning Application for the
first four business units has just been approved

Development by

by Wiltshire Council. The units vary in size from
7,500sq ft to 36,000 sq ft. with a total area
of 67,500 sq ft. The firm is now considering a
further application for roadside uses such as a
convenience store and drive thru at the 35-acre
site near Westbury.
Chris Wordsworth, development director
at HPH, said: “When complete Hawke Ridge
Business Park could support 1,000 jobs in
Wiltshire, and will provide half a million square
feet of much needed commercial space. But
gone are the days when all a business would
need is a roof, four walls and a yard. Hawke
Ridge Business Park enjoys an unusually high
level of connectivity with fibre connections
to both BT and Virgin services immediately
available, giving a choice of provider, speed,
connection and reliability.
“For a business to operate and to thrive
they need a variety of services and at the top of
the list is high speed connectivity with ultrafast
broadband. From the earliest design phase
of the business park HPH have been working
with broadband providers as we recognise
the importance of connectivity to business
development. We believe that by offering firms
a complete package of new build services,
as well as build to suit opportunities, we can
support the business community and help it to
thrive.”

According to Alison Williams, associate
partner at Carter Jonas, investment like this
in existing and future property will not go
unrewarded. Following an uncertain 2016 she
believes companies looking for new premises
are now more discerning and are prepared to
wait for fit-for-purpose facilities.
She said: “2016 has been a very interesting
year with changing trends in the commercial
property market. Enquiries were consistent over
the summer months and they have gathered
momentum during the autumn. The majority
of these are from well established companies
wishing to expand and have been planning
a move following growth during 2014 and
2015. There is pent up demand for a range
of unit sizes with companies willing to wait
as a long as 12 months for units to satisfy
business demands. A lack of industrial stock
is also driving demand. Due to lack of stock
we are finding that companies in the Bath
area are now looking outside the town for
property solutions where they can grow, and
Hawke Ridge Business Park with its modern
infrastructure and convenient location is helping
to meet this demand.”
To discuss how new premises might
influence your business plan contact Chris
Wordsworth or Lindsay Holdoway at HPH Ltd
on 01225 480555

ACCESSIBLE • FLEXIBLE • FUTURE-PROOF

Build to suit units available
in sizes up to 250,000 sq. ft.
Skilled local workforce
Ultrafast broadband speeds
Direct trains to London
and South West
Access to A303 and
motorway network

Westbury, Wiltshire BA13 4LD

HAWKE
RIDGE
BUSINESS PARK

hawke-ridge.com

JAMES GREGORY
01793 615477
alderking.com

ALISON WILLIAMS
01225 747241
carterjonas.co.uk

THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2016

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