The deals follow significant investment at the former BAE Systems Brough facility
Paul Brustad, left, director of Citivale, with Chris Fisher, director of operations at CPM Crown.(Image: Westcore Europe)
Two substantial office lettings at Humber Enterprise Park in East Yorkshire represent the largest deals of this kind in the region since the onset of the Covid pandemic. The leases, which cover over 40,000 sqft, are located at what was once BAE Systems’ Brough facility. Despite the defence giant still maintaining a strong presence, property owner Westcore Europe has made significant investments following a sale and part leaseback that concluded BAE’s exclusivity on the site.
Several agreements have been reached since a major refurbishment of the space. Now, CPM Crown, a specialist in process solutions and engineered equipment, has secured 11,500 sqft of office space on a 15-year lease for its European operations.
Additionally, an existing tenant has expanded their footprint by an extra 18,000 sqft through a 10-year lease.Cranswick, a FTSE-listed company and current tenant, has doubled its space from 2,000 sq ft to 4,000 sq ft. Meanwhile, Pure Renewables has tripled its presence on the estate, having only moved there two years ago.
With lease renewals also confirmed for Morson Projects and Globalview Systems, the 79-acre site’s renovated office suites are now fully occupied.
Paul Brustad, director of Citivale, the asset manager for Westcore, commented: “This has been a strong period for Humber Enterprise Park. To complete deals on such a scale, and to welcome a new tenant of the calibre of CPM Crown is certainly pleasing, with long term renewals and suite expansions from existing tenants also speaking volumes for how they value the estate. We look forward to turning our attention to the remaining opportunities and really driving further employment in Brough.”
The spotlight will now shift to leasing out the industrial and warehouse space currently up for grabs on the estate, which has recently undergone a multimillion-pound facelift. There are units of 165,000 sq ft and 65,000 sq ft ready and waiting.
CPM is already eyeing up more room for growth as it consolidates its operations at Brough, with the burgeoning team making the eight-mile move west from Hessle. Chris Fisher, director of operations, EMEA at CPM Crown, shared: “Crown Europe has been based at our previous site since the Nineties, but our business has changed dramatically in recent year. We’ve evolved from operating as individual geographic business units to becoming a centralised, global functional organisation. With that shift has come growth – our team has nearly doubled – and we needed a space that enables the way we work today.”
Previously, Humber Enterprise Park was a collection of three dated buildings, but it now boasts open-plan office spaces complete with meeting rooms. Mr Fisher went on to say: “This new building also gives us the flexibility to grow in the future, including the potential to add a pilot plant where customers can see our innovations in action.”
Established by aviation pioneer Robert Blackburn during the First World War, Brough subsequently provided flight testing from its own runway and water launch facility, with assembly and conversion operations supporting both wartime efforts before becoming part of BAE. The office suites are named after aircraft developed at the site, including the Bluebird, Firebrand and Hawk.
The latter – now in its 46th display season as the Red Arrows’ aircraft – cemented Brough’s iconic reputation. PPH Commercial and LSH are acting for Citivale regarding the industrial and warehouse space, whilst GV&Co is managing the refurbishment works for Citivale.