Call for advanced manufacturing businesses to locate to inspirational, purpose-built space in Cornwall

Up to 75 new jobs in Cornwall’s advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors could be created near St Austell over the next five years at the Enterprise Space for Advanced Manufacturing (ESAM) which opens its doors this week.

The newly completed £8.9 million flagship development, led by Cornwall Council is now open for business and will encourage the establishment and growth of advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses within the key growth sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy.

Built on redundant china clay land donated by Imerys and Eco-Bos, the two storey building has been designed to BREEAM “Excellent” standard. The new building contains 32 business units, providing up to 2,300m sq of flexible workspace capable of being let as individual or combinations of multiple units and tailored to suit the needs of both start-up businesses and established firms. The accommodation provides a mix of offices, workshops and industrial units, ranging in size from 30 to 94m sq.

The team behind the project is now calling on businesses who believe they would benefit from the type of productive and collaborative modern workspace that ESAM will provide to come forward.

The Cornwall Council led project was designed by architects Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole and built by Kier Construction Ltd with Ward Williams Associates acting as Project Managers.  It was funded by a £6.2 million European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) investment, matched by £2.7 million funding from Cornwall Council.

The site used to house settlement tanks for the china clay industry. The new development will form part of the proposed West Carclaze Garden Village, a major new mixed-use community comprising new homes, school, shops, health and community facilities and other public amenities. The site is set to benefit from an £79 million Government investment in the construction of a new road link between St Austell and the A30, which was confirmed in the Chancellor’s November 2017 Budget Statement.

ESAM will encourage the establishment and growth of advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses within the key growth sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership’s ’10 Opportunities’ investment prospectus.

Cllr Bob Egerton, as Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Economy, said: “ESAM is situated in an area steeped in Cornwall’s industrial history that is now undergoing significant positive transformation and change.  ESAM represents a major milestone in redeveloping West Carclaze by providing employment opportunities as part of a new Garden Village.  The West Carclaze redevelopment demonstrates what can be achieved through a long term commitment to a strategic vision and a coordinated intervention by Cornwall Council involving the transport, planning, housing and economic growth services, working closely with the private sector. The quality of the new built environment and the spectacular landscape will inspire new businesses and support growth in Cornwall’s innovative high technology sectors, which in turn will support the people and prosperity of Cornwall. May I sincerely thank all those who have worked tirelessly to make this project become a reality and I look forward to the next historic milestone for that area.”

Mike King, managing director of Cornwall Development Company, said: “The ESAM building has been designed and built with productivity in mind, offering flexible spaces that can be tailored to the needs of individual businesses.  ESAM will increase the productivity of Cornwall’s advanced manufacturing, low carbon and environmental goods & services businesses, create skilled jobs, support new technology and  enable people and businesses to fulfil their growth potential.”

John Hodkin, speaking on behalf of Imerys and Eco-Bos, said: “ESAM is an important part of the wider aspirations for the West Carclaze Garden village, providing high-quality work space and contributing to the significant employment, social and economic benefits which the regeneration of former china clay land will bring.

“We were delighted to be able to donate the land required for ESAM and to see the project come to fruition. It is an important step towards the creation of a sustainable new community here and another example of how West Carclaze has been a catalyst for investment which will reinvigorate mid-Cornwall.”

Enquiries for the fully-serviced units are being handled by commercial agents Vickery Holman. Will Oldrieve, Senior Surveyor, said: “There is increasing demand for high quality manufacturing business spaces in Cornwall.  We are particularly impressed with the quality of build and finish and the flexibility of the accommodation that will be provided. We believe ESAM will fill an important gap in the current market and prove to be a key catalyst for new high technology businesses to grow and succeed in the St Austell and surrounding areas.”

To enquire about letting a unit or hiring a meeting room, please visit www.esamcornwall.co.uk or contact Vickery Holman, 01872 245600, woldrieve@vickeryholman.com.

The Official Opening Event will take place in September 2018.