New £5.2m industrial park in Harborough wins energy efficiency award

Darroch Baker, special projects director, J Tomlinson, Ashton Mitchell, marketing manager, J Tomlinson, Andrea Hopkins, principle valuer, LCC and Jamie Forman, operational real estate manager,

A new £5.2m industrial park in Market Harborough has landed a prestigious accolade.

Airfield Business Park, set to create over 200 jobs, has won the coveted regional prize at the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2020.

Developed by Leicestershire County Council, it’s been named the Regional Large Scale Project of the Year at a ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel at East Midlands Airport.

The honour recognises firms involved in delivering a successful large scale scheme costing over £250,000.

This phase of the industrial park is home to 12 units and is built by construction company J Tomlinson.

The blueprint features 692 solar panels.

They are a key part of the county council’s ongoing commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Cllr Byron Rhodes, the local authority’s cabinet member for finance and resources, said: “I’m delighted that our work on Airfield Business Park has been recognised for what we are trying to achieve as a council.

“We are a green council and tackling climate change is one of our top priorities.

“In the first year the site will reduce carbon emissions by around 79.4 tonnes – the equivalent of a car travelling 238,000 miles.”

He added: “We take our commitments to reduce carbon very seriously and this development is just one of the initiatives we’re exploring.

“Investing in property also means we can generate income to plough back into services, helping to meet ever-increasing demands.”

The initiative was funded by the county council’s capital programme – bankrolled by proceeds of land and building sales.

Mark Davis, chief executive of J Tomlinson, said: “We are thrilled that Airfield Business Park has won the Regional Large Scale Project of the Year Award.

“It was a pleasure to partner with Leicestershire County Council in delivering this highly-celebrated, energy-efficient project.

“It has been recognised for its significant environmental contributions and supports the council’s ongoing commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030.”

Airfield Business Park has a range of high-spec industrial units ranging from 1,570 to 33,360 sq ft (145 to 3,099 sq m).

Several companies are showing an interest in renting the units.

Some four out of the 12 available have already been let and another four have been reserved by prospective tenants.