Following a period of rapid expansion which has seen Naylors increase their fee turnover to in excess of £1 million a year and relocate their former office premises on Team Valley and in the central Newcastle into a larger more modern accommodation in Newcastle City Centre in readiness for the next phase of development the Company have now extended their Board.

The new Board member is Keith Stewart, previously an Associate Director with the firm and who has now been with the company for over five years.  Bill Naylor, Managing Director, commented that Keith had been proactive in expanding the Company’s client base and had been instrumental in growing the Industrial Agency Department, which Keith has headed up over the past year.

Originally from Belfast Keith is 33 years old and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2006.  He is married with one child and lives in Whitley Bay.

An innovative Business Village is taking shape on the outskirts of Ashington to meet the demands of new and expanding companies across the region.

Partnership Projects Limited recently agreed terms with OneNorthEast to create Zenith Business Village on a four acre site within the new Ashwood Business Park in Northumberland.

The project, being built by Dorin Construction and marketed by Naylors Chartered Surveyors, will provide 38 high-tech office units of 1,570 square feet, the first of which is scheduled for completion in summer 2009.

“The business village concept was originated by Partnership Projects, which has successfully created a network of such projects across the UK. What’s more, the market for this type of accommodation continues to bear-up even in the current economic climate,” says Fergus Laird a director at Naylors.

“A good local example of the concept is the Apex Business Village at the junction of the A19 and the A189 Spine Road. Comprising 48 units, the Apex project has been a tremendous success with all units now sold and some changing hands at increased prices – defying the drop in commercial values seen elsewhere. We expect this trend to be reflected at Zenith”

Partnership Projects identified the new Ashwood Business Park site as the ideal location for Zenith in their search for a follow up development to Apex. It is situated only 15 miles north of Newcastle at the junction of the A189 and B1334 and offers a combination of modern, purpose built suites approved for Class B1 office use, designed in an attractive village setting in an easily accessible, out of town location and with ample free staff and customer parking.

“Whilst most suites at Zenith will be 1,570 sq.ft., some are to be built as doubles thus offering greater flexibility and appeal to a broad range of local businesses and incoming companies,” continues Fergus. “The success of Apex has proved that there is a great demand for office space in business village settings and we expect interest in Zenith to be extremely high.”

Prices at Zenith start from only £199,000  per unit, for further information contact Fergus Laird or Louis Donaldson at Naylors on 0191 2327030.

An expanding local security firm has become the latest business to move into a prestigious industrial estate in South Tyneside, creating up to eight jobs in the process.

Bastion Security collected the keys to their new unit on Finlay Court, Simonside East Industrial Estate, South Shields early last week and just days before the official launch of the latest phase of this important South Tyneside development.

The company, which supplies anti-ballistic and anti-blast services to banks, diplomatic agencies and government organisations, has leased the last two units as part of a business growth programme. It also has a 13,000 sq.ft facility at nearby Follingsby Park in Gateshead.

“Finlay Court and adjacent Phases Two and Three, are the largest industrial development to be built in South Tyneside for some time and the third in the borough for developer City & Northern following completion of their office developments at Blue Sky Way in Monkton and Waverley in South Shields,” said Keith Stewart of Naylors Chartered Surveyors who are sole agents on the development, which was constructed by Whelan.

“Finlay Court is now fully let or sold, half of Phase Two has already been sold to Kans and Kandy who recently relocated to Simonside from Monkton Business Park and the three remaining units here are already generating a great deal of interest.”

The Finlay Court development has been created by City & Northern to meet the growing needs of South Tyneside’s small businesses. It’s location, close to local infrastructure, the A19 and the A1(M) has been a major contribution to its success to date.

 “The development’s occupants are all growing businesses with owners who wanted to stay in or around the South Tyneside area but which need quick and easy access to the rest of the region and beyond,” said City & Northern’s Cath Cannon.

The latest phase of this development comprises approximately 94,000 square feet of high quality industrial space available for lease or to purchase. For further information contact Keith Stewart on 0191 232 7030 or email keith.stewart@naylors.co.uk.

The continuing expansion of a local chartered surveying practice has created two new jobs, with more to follow.

Naylors Chartered Surveyors has recently created two new posts to help meet the needs of its ever increasing customer base.

Alastair McGillivray joins the Office Agency Department as a Senior Surveyor.  Alastair achieved a First Class BA (Hons) Business Studies Degree at the University of Hull before going on to further his studies and gain entry into the profession through a Masters degree in Land Management at the University of Reading. 

After qualifying as a surveyor, whilst working in Manchester Alastair, returned to the North East to work with GVA Grimley.  He gained experience in Newcastle office marketing through employment at storeys:ssp before focusing on investment and residential development on behalf of Tynebridge Investments. 

Now back in the commercial property market Alastair says “I am relishing the new challenge and looking forward to helping Naylors continue their growth as the largest independent chartered surveyors in Newcastle.”

Nickie Walton has been appointed as Tenant Liaison Officer in the practice’s Asset Management Department. A graduate of Manchester Met and with a wealth of experience in customer service, Nickie is now responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the practice’s expanding asset management portfolio. This includes working with tenants and owners, undertaking building inspections, reviewing contractor performance and checking that remedial works are completed to the required standard.

Fergus Laird, director at Naylors said, “I am delighted to welcome Alastair and Nickie to the business. The pair have joined us at an exciting time as we have just moved into a brand new head quarters building in Newcastle city centre and poised for further business expansion.

“As an integral part of this we are currently looking to appoint a RICS qualified building surveyor and I would be delighted to hear from anyone who might be interested in this role.”

A commentary from the Team at Naylors Chartered Surveyors.

It has now been three months since Naylors moved into their new centralised head office at Hadrian House and it has been an interesting quarter. And, whilst the general economic outlook has not improved since March, the Naylors’ team believes that it is not doom and gloom.

Fergus Laird, head of the practice’s Office Team reports a significant number of new prestigious instructions across the region including 45000 sq ft at Baron House, 41000 sq ft in Hadrian House Higham Place, both Newcastle; 100,000 sq ft at Cobalt Business Exchange and 20000sq ft in Innovate House Balliol Business Park to name but a few, with many more quality instructions just received and being processed. Also the team has been instructed by a substantial North-East based company, potentially wishing to acquire up to 45000 sq.ft. of office space on Newcastle Quayside. To service these instructions effectively Fergus has taken on a new member for the team, Alastair McGillivray. Formerly with Storeys SSP, Alastair has much experience in the regional office market.

On the investment side, the sparkle has undoubtedly gone and there has been a general moving out of yields. However, according to Gavin Dawson, there is still strong demand from equity backed rather than debt backed purchasers. He cites, as an example, one particular practice client who is still very much on the acquisition trail having recently completed on a substantial retail parade in Sunderland City Centre.

In the industrial sector, companies involved with the oil and gas industries are experiencing boom times and, whilst all clients are aware of the problems, developers are still seriously progressing plans and occupiers continue to make enquiries. According to Keith Stewart “New instructions are coming in, but there is likely to be a lack of new speculative product in the coming year. This is due to a combination of tighter funding, coupled with the unfortunate effects of Government policy, which are producing higher costs and risk through the introduction of the punitive Empty Property Rating and the requirements for Energy Performance Certificates.”

EPCs are also an issue in the area of asset management as businesses try to get to grips with the requirements of this leglislation. The main concerns seem to be how the EPC will affect both the letting and sale of new and second hand space and how stringently the certificates will be enforced.

Angus White believes the challenge of the next six months will be to assist and manage businesses in difficulty and he sees the retail sector as being the most exposed. “Naylors offers a conciliatory and flexible approach and will work in cooperation with landlords and tenants to help minimize the possibility of company failures. We believe this is important because a failed business can have a massive effect the cash flow of the landlord whose property is being leased, not just in terms of a loss of rent, but also because vacant properties now face full void rate charges, in terms of asset management.”

In broader regional terms, Bill Naylor believes there is a need to identify and bring forward new sites for industrial development, as well as better quality sites for social housing and  that the public sector should continue its investment in transport and infrastructure, despite market down turn.

He also feels that, given the down turn in the owner occupied market and the fact that the region’s house builders are looking to reduce new starts and land holding generally, now is a very good time for the social sector to move forward, take advantage of a weaker housing market and start looking to provide the right house type and mix in the areas of most need.

On a more personal business note, the quarter has seen Naylors employ a further two new surveyors, and they are currently recruiting a third. It has also seen Keith Stewart take on a new role as head of the practice’s Industrial Department while Bill Naylor has moved across to lead the company’s Consultancy Team.

An expanding local security firm has become the latest business to move into a prestigious industrial estate in South Tyneside, creating up to eight jobs in the process.

Bastion Security collected the keys to their new unit on Finlay Court, Simonside East Industrial Estate, South Shields early last week and just days before the official launch of the latest phase of this important South Tyneside development.

The company, which supplies anti-ballistic and anti-blast services to banks, diplomatic agencies and government organisations, has leased the last two units as part of a business growth programme. It also has a 13,000 sq ft facility at nearby Follingsby Park in Gateshead.

“Finlay Court and adjacent Phases Two and Three, are the largest industrial development to be built in South Tyneside for some time and the third in the borough for developer City & Northern following completion of their office developments at Blue Sky Way in Monkton and Waverley in South Shields”, said Keith Stewart of Naylors Chartered Surveyors who are sole agents on the development, which was constructed by Whelan.

“Finlay Court is now fully let or sold, half of Phase Two has already been sold to Kans and Kandy who recently relocated to Simonside from Monkton Business Park and the three remaining units here are already generating a great deal of interest.”

The Finlay Court development has been created by City & Northern to meet the growing needs of South Tyneside’s small businesses. It’s location, close to local infrastructure, the A19 and the A1(M) has been a major contribution to its success to date.

“The development’s occupants are all growing businesses with owners who wanted to stay in or around the South Tyneside area but which need quick and easy access to the rest of the region and beyond”, said City & Northern’s Cath Cannon.

The latest phase of this development comprises approximately 94,000 sq ft of high quality industrial space available for lease or to purchase. For further information contact Keith Stewart on 0191 232 7030 or email keithstewart@naylors.co.uk.

An exciting new office development has been launched by developers Helios City, a division of Helios Properties PLC, which will breathe life back into a once derelict part of Durham City.

Construction work is soon to commence on the £12.5 million Stonebridge Business Village, on the western fringe of the City, near the historic site of Neville’s Cross.  The development is already generating a great deal of interest from office occupiers wanting to take advantage of its excellent location.

Helios City Director, David Salkeld, who is delighted with the interest to date, said; “The Stonebridge Business Village represents a significant investment by Helios City into this part of Durham City. We have been working very closely with the planners since early last year to create a scheme that will not only provide a high-quality business environment, but also recognise the landscape, design and environmental needs of the surrounding area.

“Conditional Planning Approval was granted in March and preparatory enabling works have commenced.”

The Business Village, planned for the 6 acre former Stonebridge Diary site, will comprise up to 12 state-of-the-art, self-contained, two storey office units offered in varying sizes from 1,278 sq ft to 11,404 sq ft, with the flexibility for bespoke properties if required. The scheme is to be built in three courtyards of two blocks, each courtyard providing circa 18,000 square feet in total.

All are available for sale or to let and are designed to the highest specification with comfort cooling, IT infrastructure provision, suspended ceilings, Cat 3 lighting and the potential for bespoke, occupier fit-out packages.

Fergus Laird of Naylors who is marketing the scheme for Helios City alongside Bradley Hall, said; “This is an excellent opportunity for businesses to register an early interest in what is already proving to be a very popular development.  Its location, flexibility and excellent infrastructure make Stonebridge Business Village an ideal choice for a wide range of business types.

Anyone wishing to register an early interest in the Stonebridge Business Village should contact Fergus Laird of Naylors on 0191 2327030 or Peter Bartley of Bradley Hall 0191 3839999.