06 September 2010
News
First Hitech Unit Away (20/02/2008)
THE FIRST unit at Business Living’s pioneering new high-tech development at York business park has been sold to Future Cleaning Services Ltd.
At 7,000 sq ft, unit 8 is the second biggest building at the £5m Novus development which comprises eight `hybrid’ units, combining first-floor offices with ground-floor production floor space.
Novus is the first development of its kind by Leeds-based Business Living which selected York to pioneer the concept because of its growth in science and bio-technology enterprises.
The ground-floor area of each unit has been created as flexible space suitable for use as laboratories, technological assembly areas, training or storage space.
Future Cleaning Services, Nether Poppleton, which was founded in 2003 and has a £9m turnover, is to close its head administrative office in Lincoln and relocate to the new 7,000 sq ft Novus unit.
The company’s 1,500 staff, including part timers, are based around the UK but the relocation will see its York staff increase by about 15 to more than 30.
The business, which carries out the contract cleaning of commercial premises, including McKechnie Plastics, Stamford Bridge, and York International Youth Hostel, also specialises in cleaning multiplex cinema carpets through the UK, and incorporates A to Z Cleaning Services, Redrew, which it acquired last year, and which carries out the annual deep-cleaning of P & O Ferries.
Chief executive, Charles Chisholm, 37, says: “The Novus scheme appealed to us because of its location, design and quality of build. The main attraction for us is the hybrid element. We will use the ground floor space for maintaining our 12 truck-mounted machines used for cleaning multiplex cinema carpets.
“The move will enable us to improve our efficiency by centralising office staff. We are pleased to have completed the deal and be the first company to move into Novus.”
Novus, which completed in January after a ten-month building phase by Leeds-based GMI Construction Group Plc, has seven remaining units, ranging from 3,750 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft, in a landscaped setting with dedicated loading areas, allocated car parking, cycle park facilities and CCTV security.
Business Living managing director, Iain Robertson, says: “We have never had any doubts about Novus’ wide appeal for a wide range of businesses.
“We are delighted to have sold Unit 8 to such a dynamic business as Future Cleaning Services and to welcome them to this innovative development which we now plan to replicate in other parts of the country.”