Bedford Business Newsletter February 2021

Goodman has broken ground on 250,000 sq ft of prime distribution and logistics space at Bedford Commercial Park.

The high-specification units consisting of 130,000 sq ft, 50,000 sq ft, 40,000 sq ft and 30,000 sq ft respectively, will see Goodman deliver prime industrial and warehousing space available for occupation from Autumn 2021.

Adjacent to the A421 - just seven miles from the M1 and 12 miles from the A1 Black Cat Roundabout – the mixed-use development boasts excellent connectivity and access to a population of 15,400 seeking work within a 30-mile catchment area.

Combining quality and location, customers will be able to strengthen their presence at the heart of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor and benefit from close proximity to London, Cambridge and Milton Keynes, as well as links to key roads, airports and ports.

Located within a landscaped park environment complete with cycle links, extensive woodland planting and a community orchard, Bedford 130, 50, 40 and 30 reflect Goodman’s focus on sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

The buildings will feature solar photovoltaic technology, electric car charging points, smart metering and a carbon neutral cladding system – all designed to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard.

Work on the latest units follows Goodman’s completion and leasing of Bedford 405, a 407,143 sq ft cross-docked warehouse at Bedford Commercial Park. Delivered as a joint venture with Bedford Borough Council, the wider development includes bespoke design and build opportunities and 12 advanced technology and engineering units, forming part of the Council’s i-Brand initiative.

Bedford Borough Council has proactively brought its land interest forward, in conjunction with developer partners, to deliver high quality commercial space which has successfully attracted business inward investment and created new job opportunities for local people.

For further information visit Bedford Commercial Park | logistics space | Goodman

Build Back Better and Greener with a £5,000 Grant

Low Carbon Spaces is an ERDF-funded grant programme offering grants between £1,000 and £5,000 to SMEs to cover a third of the cost of energy saving measures such as LED lighting, solar panels, boiler upgrades, double glazing, insulation and more.

Supported measures should be upgrades from existing inefficient installations and must take place in commercial premises. Grants are now available to SMEs in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

The fund is helping local businesses reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions and improve eco-credentials as part of the U.K goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As the economy looks to rebuild and grow from the COVID-19 crisis, Low Carbon Workspaces can help businesses build back greener and recover in a more sustainable way.

The application process is quick and easy - find out more and check if you are eligible for a grant here. Or contact the team: info@lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk 01494 927131.

G Park Bedford Wixams 

G-Park Bedford Wixams development offers three highly specified distribution developments of 126,132 sq ft, 161,374 sq ft and 249,219 sq ft, due for completion in June 2021. It is anticipated that the space will be suitable for a range of commercial, industrial and distribution companies.

The units will each benefit from a best-in-class specification, including 50m service yards, 15m clear internal height and 2 level access doors, together with a generous number of dock levellers, car and HGV parking and substantial power supply.

The site is situated in a prime location for logistics, 3 miles to the south of Bedford and a few minutes’ drive from the A421, offering occupiers excellent connectivity and easy access to both the M1 and A1.

The new units will each feature the enhanced GLP ‘standard’ specification 2020 which includes an ultra-modern treatment to the design of the primary office elevation together with a range of cutting-edge enhancements throughout the welfare facilities.

For further details contact any of these property agents.

Richard Last, richard.last@brownandlee.com

Toby Green, tgreen@savills.com

Richard Evans, richard.evans@cushwake.com

To read more about the opportunity, check the link G-Park Bedford Wixams - GLP

Staying Safe – Covid-19  Advice for Safe Travel to Work

Walking & Cycling to work

Where you need to travel to work, walk or cycle if you can. This will reduce pressure on public transport and the road network.

Car Sharing

Car sharing is not permitted with someone from outside your household or your support bubble unless your journey is undertaken for an exempt reason. For example, if car sharing is reasonably necessary as part of your work.

Where it is essential to car share, you can reduce the risk of COVID transmission by: 

- sharing the transport with the same people each time

- minimising the group size at any one time

- opening windows for ventilation

- travelling side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow

- facing away from each other

- seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle

- cleaning your car between journeys using standard cleaning products – make sure you clean door handles and other areas that people may touch

- asking the driver and passengers to wear a face covering

Hand Washing - Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise your hands often, and always when exiting or re-entering your vehicle and when finishing your journey.

Public Transport

You can continue using the public transport network if you need to travel for an exempt reason.

-You must wear a face covering on public transport and in substantially enclosed areas of transport hubs in England. You will be breaking the law if you fail to do so and could be fined. Some people don’t have to wear a face covering for health, age or disability reasons

- You should stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible

National guidance for travelling to work safely can be found here:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)