Work begins on new 30,000 sq ft distribution facility at Hartlebury Trading Estate

A leading assistive devices developer has signed a pre-let agreement for a purpose-built 30,000 sq ft distribution facility at Schroder UK Real Estate Fund’s (SREF) Hartlebury Trading Estate.

ETAC, an established developer and provider of ergonomic assistive devices and patient handling equipment, has agreed a 15-year lease on Hartlebury 30; the biggest new-build project at Worcestershire’s largest commercial estate for two decades.

Construction began this week on 30,000 sq ft of warehouse and office space for the business, and ETAC, which is currently based in Halesowen, invited 12-year-old Warwick Dumighan, a long-standing client, to break ground on the project.

Rupert Jeffries of Collingwood Rigby, asset managers for the Estate, said: “Built-to-suit opportunities of this scale are rare – there has been a very well-documented shortage of high-quality industrial stock across Worcestershire and the West Midlands as a whole for some years now, and we recognised that with the Estate reporting consistently low void levels year-on-year, and with interest levels showing no sign of abating, design-and-build opportunities were the key to satisfying the demand for property within the region.

“As such, we secured permission from Wychavon Council in 2018 for a purpose-built 30,000 sq ft facility. Discussions began with ETAC pre-Pandemic, but the inevitable hiatus resulting from Coronavirus restrictions meant that the deal took longer to agree than all parties would have hoped, with terms being agreed late last year.

“We are absolutely delighted to have broken ground on what is going to be a very important building at the Estate."

Jon Preater, CCO of ETAC, said: “Purpose built warehouse, office and training spaces space are complemented by easy walking access to local rail links and semi rural surroundings. This is a superb head office location for our UK operation.

“It was important to us to mark the start of this next step by involving Warwick, who uses many of our R82 and Convaid range of products for seating, mobility, bathing, walking and standing, and trials our products before launch. Warwick, his parents and carers give us valuable feedback about functionality, postural support and living with the products day to day, and with him being such a happy young man, we could think of nobody better to break ground on the scheme.”

Duncan Bedhall, of joint agents Fisher German, added: “With the initial conversations with ETAC having begun 18 months ago, there is a real sense of achievement in work commencing on this long-anticipated opportunity.

“ETAC has chosen to relocate its successful operation from Halesowen to the Estate to capitalise on its first-class facilities, secure environment and superb location, with its 65 strong team expecting to take occupation in Spring 2022.”

Pic cap: 12-year-old Warwick Dumighan leads the way in breaking ground at Hartlebury 30.

Back Row Left to Right: John Dillon, GJS Dillon, Matthew Gallagher, Quantum Construction, Charles Shephard, Harris Lamb, Ed Atkin, Schroder Real Estate Investment Management, Duncan Bedhall, Fisher German, Paul Fleming, Fleming Projects

Front Row Left to Right: Jon Preater, ETAC CCO, Andrew Goode, ETAC  Operations Director, Warwick Dumighan, Shawn Clarke, ETAC Managing Director and Duncan Berry, Trinity Property Consultants