SUNBEAMLAND
News, photos and
commentary referring to Sunbeam's wider legacy
Urban
Splash buys Sunbeam motorcycle factory in Wolverhampton
Aug 12 2009
by Anna Blackaby, Birmingham Post
Rotunda and Fort Dunlop
developer Urban Splash has made its first foray into Wolverhampton with
the purchase of the city’s historic Sunbeam motorcycle factory for an
undisclosed sum.
Regeneration experts in
the city have hailed the deal, which saw A & J Mucklow sell the Victorian
landmark to the developer, as an encouraging sign for the city’s
commercial property market.
Urban Splash have not revealed what they intend to do with the site, which
totals 150,000 sq ft of connected industrial buildings, but said its
development team is looking at a range of options and is consulting with
local authorities.
A spokesperson from
Urban Splash said: “We are excited to have acquired a key landmark in
Wolverhampton and a stunning mix of Victorian and early 20th Century
industrial buildings.”
Wolverhampton
Development Company (WDC) chief executive Stephen Catchpole said athough
it was still early days, he believed the commercial property market in the
city could be showing signs of life again.
He said: “It’s hard to
say entirely that the market’s coming back.
“We have been pleased
to see some interest and we are in the throws of negotiations over other
things.
“The market is not good
but there are certainly some encouraging signs it may be starting to warm
up again.”
He added the
transaction reflected the growing appeal of Wolverhampton for developers.
“Urban Splash is
renowned for delivering innovative, high quality commercial and
residential developments.
“Its first purchase in
Wolverhampton is testament to the city’s growing appeal as a great place
to invest.”
Urban Splash’s latest
purchase was named after the manufacturing hub of Sunbeam Motorcycles and
the building is one end of what used to be an enormous industrial complex
called Sunbeamland turning out world-famous cycles and motorbikes in the
first years of the last century.
Sitting in a prominent
position off Penn Road to the south of Wolverhampton Ring Road, the site,
which was previously occupied by Chubb, is five minutes’ walk to the city
centre.
WDC development
director Will Evans said: “The Sunbeam sale is a welcome addition to the
recent announcements of companies investing in the city.
“In early June, for
example, the much-awaited application for Phase I of the Interchange
scheme was submitted.”
Return to:
Sunbeamland - the motor cycle
works
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