Firms set sights on ex-BAE site

Renewable energy and manufacturing companies could create hundreds of jobs in Brough, the developer regenerating a formerBAE systems factory have said. LC industrial bought the facility from the defence giant in a £10m deal last year. BAE still makes Hawks fighters at the site but has scaled back its operation dramatically since 2011. LC, a partnership between investors Lumina Real Estate Capital and Citivale, is redeveloping the office and warehouse space left vacant after BAE job cuts.

Citivale managing director James Appleton-Metcalfe said “We’ve got interest for quite a few of the areas around the site. We’ve got some really interesting potential occupiers knocking on the door. We’ve got firms linked to renewable industries and offshore windfarms”.

An existing 130,000 sq ft warehouse is being sold to a Hull company, with the deal expected to complete within weeks. As well as the old BAE sheds, which are being renovated as part of a £6.7m scheme to get the site up to scratch, there are also 20 acres of development land. Mr Appleton-Metcalfe said three firms were interested in building on some or all of it. A deal has also been done to expand the car park at East Riding Council’s neighbouring Brough Business Centre. One of the businesses Mr Appleton-Metcalfe has spoken to is based in the East Riding but could relocate its 250 strong operation to Brough and would then be looking to expand. The renewable energy firm would bring in about 50 staff and is growing steadily, he said.

Meanwhile, redundant buildings are being demolished and old fashioned heating systems replaced with newer, more efficient models. Mr Appleton-Metcalfe said “There’s nothing to say we’ve finalised a deal yet, but we’ve started the demolition. We’ve shut down the steam boilers and we’re installing new gas boilers for the existing tenants. We’re launching a new website as well”.

LC aims to pay tribute to the estates heritage with vinyl wraps of aircraft and buildings named after planes. It has now completed a £125,000 land sale to Humberside Fire and Rescue Service for a new station to replace a dated existing one on the site. That will be transformed into an exhibition centre showcasing Brough’s aircraft heritage. The park is being marketed in Hull by PPH Commercial.

Published in Hull Daily Mail