Wrexham Industrial Estate’s biggest landlord says approval of expansion plans will help local businesses

The biggest landlord on Wrexham Industrial Estate says newly approved plans to expand the area will help local businesses to grow.

FI Real Estate Management was given the green light by Wrexham Council to create over 200,000 square feet of new industrial units at a meeting held earlier this week.

It will now result in the redevelopment of previously unused land off Clywedog Road North and South.

Wrexham Industrial Estate is one of the largest industrial estates in the UK and the asset and property management company currently oversees around 500,000 square feet of existing industrial space.

A spokesperson said the new scheme had been brought forward in response to an increasing demand for extra premises.
They said: “We’re delighted to receive this approval from Wrexham Council and are keen to start making these plans a reality.

“Our investment demonstrates our belief and confidence in Wrexham, and our desire to support the local business community.
“We have enjoyed full occupancy at Wrexham Industrial Estate for the last two years and are confident that we can further contribute towards the continued growth of business in North Wales.”

The plans were discussed by Wrexham Council’s planning committee at a meeting held on Monday.
 
Both applications gained the approval of councillors after an agent acting on the firm’s behalf told them there had been ‘significant’ interest in the sites.

Discussing a scheme on land opposite Wilkinson Business Park on Clywedog Road South, Justin Paul said industrial units were being put forward because attempts to market the land for office space had failed.

He added that it had been designed to prevent any problems for people living on the nearby Pentre Maelor housing estate.
He said: “First Investments support some 60 companies on the estate which employ 1,200 people across half a million square foot of premises.

“In drawing up this particular scheme, First Investments gave much great thought to how the interface with the neighbouring Pentre Maelor housing estate to the east would work.

“The Unitary Development Plan permits offices and/or light industrial units opposite the Wilson Industrial Park.
“Notwithstanding the lack of demand for offices, and that’s been supported by your own economic development team and marketed for many years, we’d argue that the offices could’ve resulted in a far more intensive use of this site.

“The proposed use will serve to ensure all activities are facing away from the estate.”

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme).