The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 32: Aug/Sept 2017 | Page 35

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
HPH TAKES CHARGE OF
VEHICLE EMISSIONS
Carriage Works Renovation
Forward Swindon is pressing ahead with
the redevelopment of the Carriage Works.
Construction has now started on phase
1, following the appointment of building
contractors Sienna. Planning permission
has been granted for 9,845 sqft (including
mezzanine), which will provide space for
around 180 desks, meeting rooms and
facilities.
The first tenants are expected to arrive in
November 2017 following the appointment
of an operator to manage the space. Forward
Swindon has invited tenders from suitable
operators to create a business incubation
centre that will attract and nurture small and
growing businesses.
Paul Chamberlain, Director of New
Development Partnerships at Forward
Swindon, said: “We know the demand
is there, as we’ve been inundated with
enquiries – both from potential tenants and
operators. We’re excited to see the start of
works and will be unveiling plans for the
wider site in due course”.
Cllr Garry Perkins, Swindon Borough
Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration,
added: “FSL and the Council have created
a strong vision for the Carriage Works and
we’re now seeing the fruits of this vision. The
redevelopment will bring life back to these
historic buildings, support local business, and
regenerate the wider area.”
The start of the Carriage Works
redevelopment coincides with the launch of a
new Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise
Partnership fund. The fund has been secured
by the SWLEP from the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF) to support the
creation of new businesses for start-ups and
small businesses.
HPH Commercial Property has recently made
the addition of a number of electric charging
points at properties they own and manage in
Wiltshire and Somerset.
Charging points have been installed at
Westbury’s Woodland Estate, Northlands
Industrial Estate in Warminster, Churchward
House in Swindon, Bewley House in
Chippenham, Kingsmead Square in Bath and
their car park at Monmouth Place in Bath.
This installation means that many premises
and tenants can benefit from two ‘dual-
docking’ charge points, allowing for up to
four vehicles to be charged at one time.
This initiative comes partly in response to
requests from tenants for electric charging
points, and forward thinking from the
management department at HPH Ltd, who
have monitored the increasing popularity in
electric and hybrid vehicles throughout the
UK.
The company has also purchased its own
electric vehicle a Renault Zoe from Platinum
Renault in Trowbridge, due for delivery in early
August, which will enable staff to continue to
manage properties in a more environmentally
friendly way.
HPH have implemented the initiative as part
of its drive to maximise the environmental
credentials of its properties and in response
to the increasing number of electric vehicles
on the UK’s roads. The number of registered
plug-in vehicles has steadily increased in
recent years and now stands at 101,500
vehicles.
In the Queen’s Parliamentary Speech last
month the Government unveiled plans for a
new bill on automated and electric vehicles,
which will require electric vehicle charge
points are installed at motorway stations and
major petrol stations.
HPH has invested over £20,000 in the
project, with a further £6,000 grant from the
Government’s Office of Low Emission Vehicles
(OLEV).
Lindsay Holdoway, managing director of HPH
Ltd, said “We have been running a plug-in
hybrid for nearly two years and installing these
electric charging points is a key element of
our green agenda which is a component of
all of our work and will give our tenants and
their employees the ability to move to this
technology if they choose.
“We encourage all of our tenants to become
active in their contribution to managing their
environmental impact and we are confident
that the introduction of the dual-docking
stat