11a Chapman Way, High Brooms Industrial Estate Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3EF

A ground floor business unit of 970 sqft with fully glazed front with double opening doors let to company that makes small fishing parts.

2009.06

Units 7-10 North Quay, Upper Brents Industrial Estate Faversham Kent ME13 7DZ

Unit 7 of 1,250 sqft sold to private individual with completion in December 2009

2009.06

Units 1a Marley Farm, Headcorn Road, Smarden Headcorn Kent tn27 8PJ

A factory / warehouse unit of 2,460 sqft with securable yard let to Resolve Marine Limited.

2009.06

Cuxton Road, Bircholt Road Maidstone Kent ME15 9XT

Unit C5 of 2,325 sqft let to Let Easy-Print UK Limited. New development just off Bircholt Road at Parkwood.

Previous lettings include:
Unit C6, 2,325 sqft, let to kitchen showroom company Sink Ports
Unit C1 of 4,355 sqft let to Stapletons Limited for a tyre and exhaust centre.

2009.06

June 2009 Industrial and Warehouse market

The activity in the market over the last quarter has been the worst we have known although as summer beckons there seems to be a glimmer of hope. Visitors to our web site are up from 475 a week at the beginning of the year to a current level of 550 per week.

Although there are a limited number of new small and medium sized requirements, the larger occupiers are seriously looking with a view to occupying space next year. We predict therefore that there will be an improvement in activity towards the end of the year. There are therefore some great opportunities for buyers and occupiers to do de...
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2009.06

Feedback

Feedback to our marketing from a regional developer: "Thank you for the details. Probably the best presented list I have received. The incorporating of the aerial photographs is of great assistance in considering the proposals."

2009.06

A21 widening scheme due to begin

The process of widening a bottleneck on the main road between London and Hastings in East Sussex will officially begin later this year, Greg Clark MP said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8093422.stm

2009.06

Small Business Rate Relief - You can save HALF your rate bill

Properties with a rateable value of up to and including £5,000 is eligible for 50 per cent rate relief.

For properties rated from £5,001 up to and including £10,000, the amount of rate relief will decrease by an estimated 1 per cent for every £100 of value. Your local billing authority will calculate the exact decrease.

The relief will be funded by increasing the rate payments for properties valued at £15,000 or more (£21,500 in London) by an extra 0.7 pence per pound of rateable value. Qualifying properties valued from £10,001 up to and including £14,999 (£21,499 in London), will have their...
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2009.05

VAT - Option to tax can be revoked

Since 1989 property owners have been able to claim back vat on expenses incurred on buildings by opting to tax but once a building was subject to vat, that was it for ever. Not any more. The option to tax can now be revoked after 20 years and there can be significant savings as well as making a property attractive to parties that are not registered for vat:

If for instance a factory is to be sold for £230,000 ex vat, the total price would be £272,435 including £34,500 vat and £7,935 Stamp duty at 3%. If the option to tax is revoked, there is no vat and the stamp duty reduces to 1%, £2,300, a ...
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2009.05

Unit 10 Access 4:20, Bellingham Way Aylesford, Maidstone Kent ME20 7HP

A modern end of terrace industrial / warehouse of 1,950 sqft let to Smart Office Solutions.

2009.04

Empty rates

Industrial and Warehouse premises will be given 100% relief for the first six months from when the property becomes empty, whilst Office and Retail premises will be given 100% relief for the first three months. All rate relief for these properties will end after this time and the full Non-Domestic Business Rate will be chargeable.

However, for the financial year 2009/10, empty properties with a rateable value of less than £15,000 will be exempt from business rates.

You can always take the roof off as London Life did in the 1970s but be aware that they may charge you if you adopt tactics ju...
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2009.04

Core Commercial launch YouTube video service

Core Commercial have launched a video service to clients as part of their marketing service for factories and warehouses. David Marriott commented "This service will enable us to bring our clients property to life. We do the filming, editing and publishing in house so there will be no up front cost to the client."

http://www.corecommercial.co.uk/about-us/youtube.shtml
http://www.corecommercial.co.uk/database/linkpark.shtml...
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2009.04

Flex, Unit 2 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4AQ

A high quality B1 office and business unit comprising 1,410 sqft offices to front with 860 sqft of store / assembly to rear let to care and support charity In Touch Support, Part of The Hyde Housing Group.

2009.03

Former Turks warehouse, Park Street Lydd Kent TN29 9AX

Basic warehouse of 5955 sqft with mezzanine of 4945 sqft let to Product Imports.

2009.03

Former Summit Steel, Spongs Lane Sissinghurst Kent TN17 2AH

Factory / warehouse with securable yard with ground floor of 4,680 sqft let to Sleep Safe Limited

2009.03

Current market conditions

Despite the gloom in the news, Core Commercial are still doing deals. There has been a shift from last year where 75% of deals were freehold to today where 75% of the deals are lettings but sometimes with options to purchase the freehold.

Many of the deals that we are doing are on substandard properties where rents are especially low and in out of the way locations such as Lydd, Sissinghurst and Tonge. We are also receiving good interest in the larger developments of above 20,000 sqft but where the timescale for occupation is probably at least 12 months away. The properties that really seem t...
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2009.03

66 Vulcan Way, Off King Henry Drive New Addington, Croydon Surrey CR0 9UG

A single storey warehouse and factory of 20,550 sqft on a site of 1.04 acre sold to Adams Aviation.

2009.02

Tonge Corner Farm, Church Road Tonge Near Sittingbourne Kent ME9 9BA

A basic workshop / store of 3,350 sqft let to AS Plastic Collectors.

2009.02

7 Henwood, Henwood Industrial Estate Ashford Kent TN24 8DH

Factory unit of 8,750 sqft with yard let to Its Time For Bed Limited.

2009.02

Units 2-6, Nimbus Enterprise Park, 20/20 Estate, Liphook Way Maidstone Kent ME16 0LQ

Unit 5 Nimbus providing 3,477 sqft let to Newey and Eyre.

Unit 3 Nimbus providing 5,628 sqft let to Palmer and Harvey in October 2008.

This is a new development, close to junction 5 of M20 mortoway. Two units and the ground floor offices on Nimbus House remain available.

Units 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 all sold freehold or let to various occupiers including Obart Pumps and Genzyme Biochemicals

2009.02

Gallants Business Centre, East Farleigh Maidstone Kent ME15 0JS

Unit 5, refurbished factory warehouse of 1,270 sqft with extensive yard, let to Mid Kent Motorcyles.

Units 1 & 1a providing 7,185 sqft Let to MAP Contracts in 2008.

Unit 2 of 3,085 sqft let to Highway Care Limited.

2009.02

Former Runaround Indoor Play Centre, Bayham Road, Bells Yew Green Tunbridge Wells Kent TN3 9BJ

A fully fitted indoor play centre of 9,400 sqft with 55 car parking spaces let to J S Play Centres.

2009.01

Stadium Business Park, Castle Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 3RW

A high quality business development on the established Eurolink estate.

Unit 6, 2,548 sqft let to Top Attractions.

Lettings in 2008 include: Unit 7, 2,549 sqft, let to Luxtech UK Limited and Unit 8, 2,533 sqft, Let to Wood Wide Web Design Limited

2009.01

Leavers Estate, B2027 Chiddingstone Kent TN11 8JU

Business unit of 1,273 sqft on ground and first floors let to Qube Office Interiors.

2008.12

Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, off New Hythe Lane, Aylesford Maidstone Kent ME20 6XS

Unit 7 of 2,922 sqft sold to Bareed Digitec.

Unit 9 of 2,922 sqft sold in July to Contemporary Trade Flooring Limited. A new development by Valad.

2008.11

Stone Stile Farm, New Forrest Lane Selling, Near Chilham Kent ME13 9SD

Former agricultural barn of 5,580 sqft on 0.4 acre with B1 permission let to Olympia Interiors Limited.

2008.11

Overcharged for Electricity and Gas

We have just had a very nasty bill from Atlantic for gas and electricity. The bills for the last year had all been estimated. Following a recent meter reading the bill they sent sought to charge us for the whole of the sum underpaid, which mostly related to last winter, at the recent well publicised higher rate. We questioned this and as a result they have reduced our bill by 11%.

Well worthwhile making that phone call! Spread the news!

2008.11

Changes to Empty property rates

UPDATE - The Chancellor announced a change to empty property rates in his Pre-Budget Report on 24 November 2008. From 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 empty properties with a rateable value of less than £15,000 will be exempt from business rates.

This threshold equates to a 2,000 sqft unit at a rate of £7.50 per sqft.

http://www.voa.gov.uk/business_rates/empty_property_rates_changes.htm

2008.11

Former Riverside Garage, Henwood Industrial Estate Ashford Kent TN24 8DH

A detached workshop building of 4,870 sqft on a surfaced site of 0.5 acre sold freehold. Situated towards the front of the Henwood estate.

2008.10

Nimbus House, Liphook Way, 20/20 Estate Maidstone Kent ME16 0LQ

First floor providing 6,000 sqft of air conditiioned offices let on a new 10 year lease to Mansell Construction Services Limited who are part of the Balfour Beatty group. The property is on the 20/20 estate virtually adjoining junction 5 of M20 motorway.

The ground floor providing 6,143 sqft is available at a rent of £19 per sqft.

2008.10

Unit 6, Spectrum Business Estate, Bircholt Road Maidstone Kent ME15 9XZ

An industrial / warehouse unit of 4,554 sqft with trade counter use built in the 1980s sold to Alpha Elecronics. 106 year unexpired groundlease at peppercorn rental sold.

2008.10

Grampian Foods site, Northbridge Street Robertshridge East Sussex TN32 5NY

Planning appeal won on behalf of Rother District Council defending loss of employment land. This was a major commercial site just off the A21 between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells that the developers wished to see redeveloped for residential. David Marriott acted as expert witness at the Public Inquiry providing evidence of the viability and occupier demand for continued commercial use. Click photograph to link to Inspectors decision

2008.09

Nettlestead Estate, Maidstone Road Nettlestead, Near Maidstone Kent ME15 5HP

Unit 3 of 2,500 sqft let to Michael Cass Garage. This is in addition to Unit 4, providing 3,260 sqft let to OTR Tyres and

2008.09

Barham Business Park, Elham Valley Road Barham (Nr Canterbury) Kent CT4 6LN

A refurbished industrial estate in a rural location. All units from 1,000 to 7,000 sqft now let or sold.

2008.09

Unit 16, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way Maidstone, Larkfield Kent ME20 7HP

New 4,810 sqft unit let to Kestrel Technologies with option to purchase. A new development one mile from junction 4 of M20 motorway.

2008.09

Stamp duty payable on purchase price AND VAT

Whilst you would expect a purchasers solicitor to advise that stamp duty is payable upon not only the purchase price of a property but also the VAT element, a couple of purchasers have panicked at the last minute! Further we even had a purchaser a couple of years ago who had borrowed insufficient funds to cover the addition of VAT on the base purchase price from their bank and were accordingly unable to complete the purchase and lost their deposit. The moral is to use a reputable solicitor and bank who will point out these pitfalls before you start.

The rates for stamp duty on commercial prop...
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2008.09

Asbestos regulations

In summary, if you own a commercial building, either you or your tenant is required to have an asbestos report which can carried out by you (or a professional consultant).

If you are responsible for managing the maintenance and repair of a building (duty holder), you must manage any asbestos in it. As well as protecting people from exposure to asbestos fibres, you have a legal duty to manage asbestos (under regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006).

The duty to manage asbestos is contained in regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006. It requires the person w...
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2008.09

Sheppey Airport

We consider that an airport off Sheppey (or Cliffe) is a good idea. Whilst Boris Johnsons thought of closing Heathrow to pay for it is probably unrealistic, this could be a great opportunity for Kent to create jobs and shift the focus of wealth and opportunity eastwards. It is also not necessary to ruin the life of 1,000s more people in West London with the addition of an extra runway at Heathrow. Sheppey now has good transport links with the dualled A249 and crossing as well.

We could never understand why KCC were always against such a proposal. Kent along with Essex has always been the poo...
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2008.09

Planning Use Classes Order

SUMMARY GUIDE TO USE CLASSES ORDER AND PERMITTED CHANGES OF USE
Use Classes Order 1987 Including Amendments

A1
Shops, retail warehouses, hairdressers, No permitted change except to mixed use Shops undertakers, travel and ticket agencies, post as a shop and single flat and vice versa. offices, pet shops, sandwich bars, showrooms, domestic hire shops, funeral directors etc.

A2
Banks, building societies, estate and Permitted change to A1 where a ground Financial and Professional employment agencies, professional and floor display window exists. Also as above Services financial services, ...
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2008.08

Unit 3, Gallants Business Centre, EAST FARLEIGH, Maidstone, Kent

3,000 sqft refurbished industrial unit let to Mid Kent Building Services Limited

2008.08

Unit 1, Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood Industrial Estate Ashford Kent TN24 8DH

Fully refurbished 4,865 sqft Factory, Warehouse & office sold for £475,000 plus vat. (£97.64 per sqft)

2008.07

Units 2 Omicron House, Fircroft Way Edenbridge Kent TN8 6ET

Three refurbished industrial and warehouse units. Unit 1 of 2,940 sqft sold for £340,000 (£115.64 per sqft).

Unit 3 of 2,040 sqft sold for £240,000 (£117.64 per sqft).

Unit 2 remains available for sale.

2008.07

12 Larkstore Park, Lodge Road Staplehurst Kent TN12 0QX

Located on established estate close to railway station. Modern unit of 949 sqft with 949 sqft mezzanine sold for £145,000

2008.06

Site, 39-41 Brook Street Snodland Kent ME6 5UD

0.3 acre level commercial site sold for development.

2008.06

Unit 8, Viewpoint, Boxley Road Maidstone Kent ME14 2DZ

Modern unit of 4,045 sqft with 1,457 sqft mezzanine. Good car parking sold to Delron Services Limited

2008.06

Shepherds Farm Estate, Rose Lane (Off Forstal Road) Lenham Heath Kent ME17 2JN

12,000 sqft let to Barrington McDonnell Limited

2008.06

The Oast, Clock House Farm, Heath Road, Coxheath Maidstone Kent ME17 4PG

Factory / warehouse of 1,624 sqft on two floors let to Ultra Film Shield Limited

2008.06

White Paper on Business Rate Supplements

If empty rates were not enough, the government issued a White Paper in October seeking to allow Local Authorities to charge an additional 2% on properties with a rateable value in excess of £50,000:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/B/9/pbr_csr07_businessrate266.pdf

Yet more woe in line for the business community.

2008.06

Unit 4 Stonestile Business Park, Stonestile Road Headcorn Kent TN27 9BG

Refurbished factory warehouse of 3,935 sqft with 22 car parking spaces sold to Grestec Tiles Limited.

2008.05

Units 1, Railway Street, Railway Street Industrial Park Gillingham Kent ME7 1XJ

Units 2, 3, 8 and 16, each 2,380 sqft now let. Just unit 1 of 2,380 sqft remains available.

2008.05

Unit 22, Warsop Trading Estate, Hever Road Edenbridge Kent TN8 5LD

Unit 21 let to Design Fabrications Limited

2008.05

Formery Winery, Caring Lane, Bearsted Maidstone Kent ME14 4NJ

Basic Store, Workshop & Office of 1,580 sqft let.

2008.05

31, Chapman Way Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3EF

Modern factory / warehouse sold for £325,000 (£148 per sqft) including a reverse premium from the outgoing tenant of £7,000

2008.05

Ashford Industrial Centre, Brunswick Road Ashford Kent TN23 1EL

14,880 sqft Basic factory unit with yard on Cobbs Wood estate sold for £700,000.

2008.04

Clock House Farm, Coxheath, Heath Road Maidstone Kent ME17 4PG

Packhouse and store of 14,263 sqft let to Summit Steel.

2008.03

North Frith Farm, Ashes Lane Hadlow, Nr. Tonbridge Kent TN11 9QU

Unit 1 of 6500 sqft has been let to Bob Woolmer Sales Limited.

2008.01

Deals in 2008

• Maidstone, Lower Road East Farleigh - 3,000 sqft unit let to Highway Care Limited
• Maidstone, Clock House Farm, Coxheath - 14,000 sqft store and workshop let to Summit Steel Limited
• Tunbridge Wells, Baldwin's Lane - 6,000 sqft factory / warehouse sold to MTB Computer Services Limited
• Ashford, Brunswick Road - 14,880 sqft factory sold to Medway Power Transmission Limited
• Ashford, Unit 4, Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 1,890 sqft factory warehouse unit sold
• Ashford, Unit 2 Javelin Enterprise Park, Henwood - 4,794 sqft warehouse unit let to Benfleet Forwarding Company
• Sittingbour...
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2008

Deals in 2007

• Collier Street, Church Farm - 3,500 sqft storage unit let to Fabbrica Galleries Limited
• Ashford, Units A1-5, Isis Business Park, Orbital Park - 12,500 sqft trade units sold to Rhodes Park Estates Property Trading Partnership for £1.234m
• Edenbridge, Plot 13, Warsop Trading Estate - 5,800 sqft plot let to Super Scaffolding Limited
• Tunbridge Wells, Unit 10 Chapman Way - 1,600 sqft trade outlet unit sold to System Marketing Limited for £195,000
• Maidstone, Unit 1, Nimbus Enterprise Park, Liphook Way, 20/20 Estate -14,940 sqft sold to Obart Pumps limited
• Maidstone, Unit 7, Nimbus Enterpr...
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2007

Deal in 2006

• Crowborough, Unit 4 Farningham Road - 2500 sqft let to David Fairclough
• Maidstone, Unit 13, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 1,957 sqft sold to Survey & Laser
• Headcorn, Barradale Farm - 14,000 sqft let to Alan Apps
• Sittingbourne, Adelaide Dock, Symmonds Drive - Plots 3 & 4 let to National Car Parks Limited
• Maidstone, Unit 16, Access 4:20, Bellingham Way, New Hythe - 3,997 sqft sold to Gluck Engineering
• Tunbridge Wells, Unit 1, Enterprise Centre, High Brooms - 2500 sqft unit let to Kentec Mail & Courier Service Limited
• Edenbridge, Little Browns Lane - Letting of units 5 and 6...
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2006