An exciting new office development in south Warwickshire is attracting major investment into the area.

A former haulage depot in Wellesbourne Road, Barford is undergoing a multi million pound redevelopment into a mixed-use scheme including offices and homes. And already four of the nine commercial units at the Barford Exchange are under offer through joint agents Shortland Horne and GVA Grimley. The first offices will be ready in December with the second phase coming on stream in January 2008, so Cameron Thomson, of Shortland Horne, is delighted with the early response. He said: “This is extremely good news. Although we knew there was demand for high quality offices in south Warwickshire, we could not have expected this kind of interest so early on. We are tapping into both the owner-occupier market as well as the investor market and it seems that this scheme is going to provide a major boost to the economy in the area. And there is no sign of any let up in the interest in the development – so we are anticipating a busy time ahead.”

The Barford Exchange will feature two office blocks containing a total of nine units ranging from 1,156 sq ft to 2,109 sq ft. Opportunities are available for combinations on the scheme of up to 13,085 sq ft. The development, to the immediate south of Barford, has excellent transport links. It is situated off the A429 and new Barford Bypass, and is just a short drive from Junction 15 of the M40. The units are available for sale or let and there will be 52 car parking spaces within the site, showing a ratio of 1:252 sq ft of office space.

For more information contact Shortland Horne on 024 76 284088.

When national homebuilder Barratt Homes snapped up an industrial estate in Lythalls Lane to build new houses, it left several Coventry businesses looking for a new home of their own.

But instead of searching the region for units to rent following the sale of the Midland Oak Industrial Estate, three of the occupiers have clubbed together and bought half the properties on an industrial estate! Jeff Donely, of Paragon Auto Testing; John Barrett, of Canvas & Ropes; and Tony Joyce of Coventry Mechanical Services have formed Bodmoor Properties Ltd to buy the units in the New Inn Bridge Industrial Estate in Foleshill Road. They have bought the units through Coventry-based commercial property agents Shortland Horne for £429,000 and will occupy them from the beginning of July.

The three businesses have been based on Midland Oak for more than 20 years could have easily gone their separate ways which is what the rest of the firms on the estate have done. After each of the owners had looked at units on New Inn Bridge but rejected them because of cost, Joyce suggested to Donely the idea of buying together. They approached Barrett who saw the potential for a new base and a sound investment. The bank was more than willing to lend them money because there were no problems in finding tenants for the estate. The investment hasn’t stopped there for the Paragon Auto Testing. The company is importing state-of-the-art MOT equipment from Germany which is the first of its kind in the country.

It is a new form of MOT drive-in, drive-out system which, by 2015, will be compulsory throughout the country, and will enable it to test all types of vehicles including motorcycles. Canvas & Ropes has also invested in new equipment and is hoping to increase its trade in Europe. It will continue to produce protective covers, tarpaulins, boat covers made from canvas and reinforced PVC and will expand its advertising banner business. Coventry Mechanical Services is a specialist in steel fabrication and has also invested in new machinery to meet growing customer demand.

Cameron Thomson, of commercial property agents Shortland Horne, said: “I am delighted to have played a part in this deal. It’s not very often you hear of neighbouring companies buying property such as this. But it makes great sense for all three of them and means they have all made a wise investment.”

A young Coventry entrepreneur has found the perfect home and office all rolled into one.

Calum Brannan, who grew up in Exhall and attended Ash Green School, has founded his own company – www.pplparty.com, which is a social networking website for clubbers. And when the 18-year-old went on the look out for a new home and office space, he managed to find them both at CDP’s Electric Wharf in Coventry. Calum has now moved into his live-work unit at the trendy development and employs five staff. There are also a series of other apartments that remain available that have no live-work restrictions that are on the market with new homes specialists Shortland Horne.

“It’s the ideal location,” said Calum. “It’s very trendy and they have done a really good job with conversion. I have found it to be a great place to live and to work and everyone who visits is very impressed.” Calum took advice from Dragons’ Den star Doug Richards after landing a job with his hotxt.com company at the age of 17, before branching out on his own. The idea behind his website is to offer members information on clubs and events in any area of the country as well as other incentives such as ‘jump the queue’ tickets. More than 350,000 members are already signed up to it.

Just 11 apartments remain for sale at Electric Wharf, including two show apartments with extensive views over the canal and the city centre at prices from £145,000. A range of office studios and suites are also available to buy or to let at the development, which was created from the shell of Coventry’s original power station. Much of the original Victorian architecture has been preserved and incorporated within the units to create a unique development, something which has been recognised by the number of awards won by the project. Sarah Humphries, new homes sales director for Shortland Horne, said: “Electric Wharf was a very brave, ground-breaking scheme for Coventry and it is still proving to be very popular. Calum is a young entrepreneur who has chosen to live and work at the development but there are plenty of opportunities for people to buy who only want to live at Electric Wharf. The apartments are very funky and stylish and have really captured the imagination of local homebuyers.”

The final phase of the development, which includes 21 low-energy “eco-homes” is being built along the canal’s edge and will complete later this year. The properties incorporate solar-boosted heating and hot water, rainwater recycling and energy efficient appliances, together aimed at reducing energy and water use by up to 35%.

For more information contact Shortland Horne on 024 7622 0444 or on 024 7622 2509. Alternatively visit www.electricwharf.com

Pictured above: Sarah Humphries with Calum Brannan