Work starts on first three units of £15m West Yorkshire business park

Developer Pendle Russells is building a 28,000 sq ft new manufacturing base for precision-engineering firm Produmax, a 15,000 sq ft home for surgical equipment manufacturer Anetic Aid, and a 14,000 sq ft building on a speculative basis.

Construction of the new access road and buildings at the £15m Baildon Business Park is expected to be complete in early 2015.

Russells Construction is the main contractor on the 15-acre site.

Produmax will move production from premises in Otley and Yeadon to the site, bringing 44 jobs.

It forms the start of the firm’s 10-year expansion plan, part-funded by £600,000 from the Regional Growth Fund, which will see more products developed and a doubling of the workforce.

Anetic Aid, part of the Portsmouth Surgical Holdings Group, is relocating 26 staff from its maintenance, sales and distribution teams from its existing home in Guiseley.

The new facility will also allow the firm to grow its servicing engineering department and anticipates increasing staff numbers to 40 within the next few years.

Developer Mark Taylforth said: “The start of construction for the first phase of Baildon Business Park is a major milestone. Having two units pre-sold was the ideal scenario and I’m pleased we’re kicking off construction with both Produmax and Anetic Aid on board.

“Negotiations are underway with other potential tenants and, once confirmed, we’ll get to work on detailed designs and planning applications for the remaining 90,000 sq ft the site has to offer.”

Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for employment, skills and culture, said: “This development will contribute to the growth of the companies we need within the district and I welcome the jobs that come with that growth.”

Jeremy Ridyard, managing director of Produmax, said: “Produmax is in a period of rapid growth supplying to the global aerospace industry, assisted by the UK Sharing In Growth program, and we are looking forward to moving into the purpose built factory early in 2015.”

Andrew Curtin, Anetic Aid director, added: “This is a great move for us to a brand new unit, in which we have been able to specify our design requirements.”

Baildon Business Park offers a total 140,000 sq ft of business space plus restaurant/retail opportunities.