Jobs boost for Castleford as commercial property development is approved

The Leeds-based commercial developer, Eshton, has been granted planning permission for the development of two units in Castleford, West Yorkshire, spanning a total of 10,400 sq ft.

The first of the two units, offering 4,400 sq ft of space, will be occupied by F1 Autocentres, a fast-fit vehicle repair and service provider. A second, 6,000 sq ft unit at the same site will be retained and let by Eshton.

The 1.5-acre site at Park Road was purchased by Eshton in 2019 for an undisclosed sum. It was one of a series of property acquisitions for the firm in West Yorkshire at the time, including purchases in Stourton, Shipley and Normanton.

F1 Autocentres has selected the site for its new premises as part of an expansion strategy across Yorkshire, after the opening of branches in Leeds and Shipley. Following completion of the development – expected in the second quarter of 2021 – F1 Autocentres will create a total of seven jobs at the site.

Richard Tovey, director at Eshton, said: “We always knew the site at Castleford had the potential to attract leading businesses, so are pleased to already have F1 Autocentres signed up as a tenant – the prestige of this letting proves the strength of the area and is testament to our choice of location.

“Simon Hill from Colliers’ Leeds office has been appointed to market the remaining 6,000 sq ft unit and with the scarcity of available buildings of this type in the area we are very confident it will let well.”