Graftongate has secured planning consent for the development of a new, purpose-built headquarters building in Warwickshire on behalf of British chemical engineering firm, CALGAVIN.

Stratford-upon-Avon District Council has given approval for construction of a 36,381 sq ft building with integral Grade A office space, on a prominent 2.3-acre site at Alcester Employment Park, Arden Road.

The new development will be known as the Centre for Flow Processing and will become a focal point for the integration of commercial and university-led research. It will deliver laboratory and product development space and production and testing capabilities, and will benefit from strong environmental credentials, targeting an EPC A rating.

CALGAVIN will relocate to Alcester Employment Park from an existing facility at nearby Minerva Mill. Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed in summer 2023.

It is the third transaction that Graftongate and its joint venture partner, Alcester Estates Limited has completed at the 20-acre industrial/warehouse scheme and follows the speculative development of two 20,000 sq ft buildings, both of which are already fully occupied.

Jamie Hockaday, director at Graftongate, said: “We are very pleased to have secured planning consent for this purpose-built headquarters building and look forward to welcoming another high calibre occupier to Alcester Employment Park.

“CALGAVIN is an ambitious business at the forefront of science-led technology. Its significant investment in this development not only secures its future in Warwickshire but has the potential to create jobs and hands-on experience for students and post-graduate engineers.”

Martin Gough, founder and managing director of CALGAVIN, said: “This move is necessary to expand the company’s global business opportunities. More ‘fit for purpose’ space is needed to develop and test our new high value products and increase production. It will also increase manufacturing efficiency and provide long-term benefits right across the production and shipping process, becoming a purpose-built ‘home’ for CALGAVIN’s innovative future.”

Alcester Employment Park is situated in an established commercial location on the outskirts of Alcester, 8.5 miles south of Redditch and 9.5 miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon.

The site benefits from easy access to the national motorway network via the A435, A46 and A422, with Junction 3 of the M42 just 10 miles to the north.

Alcester Employment Park is capable of delivering up to 450,000 sq ft of industrial/warehouse accommodation, with individual units of up to 150,000 sq ft available on a design and build basis.

For more information, please contact Richard Johnson of Westbridge Commercial.