HARRIS LAMB OVERSEES NEW VAX BUILDING IN DROITWICH

Harris Lamb is playing a key part in the development of a design and build premises of 231,000 square feet in Droitwich on behalf of Vax.

The purpose built premises at Stonebridge Cross will centralise Vax’s warehousing operation, safeguarding jobs and allowing for further job creation.

Vax employs 200 staff, who are involved in design, engineering, customer support, warehousing and logistics.

Charles D’Auncey, director at Harris Lamb, said: “Identifying a suitable site was a long process. Vax has an established history within the area, having maintained a strong base in Droitwich ever since it was founded in 1977.

“An extensive new state of the art warehouse and office facility was seen as a critical part of the company’s expansion, and Vax was determined to retain its presence within the region.”

The building will occupy a floor space of 231,000 sq ft, making it the largest new build in Worcestershire in the last five years, and represents a massive investment in an economy where design and build opportunities in the region had pretty much ground to a halt.

“A development of this size is significant by national standards. In recent years, opportunities for design and build developments have been incredibly scarce as businesses simply cannot take the risk in the uncertain economic climate, preferring to take on existing sites and refurbish them to an ‘as new’ standard on shorter lease terms.

“This investment by Vax demonstrates the growing confidence in the industry. Harris Lamb has been able to advise on the whole process, which will comprise high bay warehousing, and high specification offices  and call centre.

“We identified the site after a long-term search process, as being able to fulfil our client’s exacting criteria. Negotiations were then carried out with the landlords, resulting in a new 15-year lease being agreed. Harris Lamb with it’s various in house teams was then able to advise and represent the client in the overseeing of the deign no build of the development itself and the eventual fitting out of the facility.”

The move has been welcomed by district councillors, who are delighted to see such significant investment in Droitwich, as well as by MP Peter Luff, who said that it was encouraging to see a large firm with origins in Droitwich expand in the town, making more jobs likely.

The building is expected to be completed by Autumn 2014.