towngate 50th anniversary book
DESCRIPTION
The following pages offer a brief history of the Towngate Group, from the beginning to 2012. They include events and people who have been instrumental in helping to make the company what it is today. I should like to thank everyone who has worked with us along the way, with special thanks to all our staff, tenants, agents, associates and suppliers. Here's to another 50 yearsTRANSCRIPT
Celebrating 50 years in Business
A plaque on the wall at Parkview House commemorating the visit of HRH Prince of Wales in 1991.
1962 - 2012
Towngate PLCCelebrating 50 years in business
The following pages offer a brief history of the Towngate Group, from the beginning to 2012. They include events and people who have been instrumental in helping to make the company what it is today. I should like to thank everyone who has worked with us along the way, with special thanks to all our staff, tenants, agents, associates and suppliers. Here’s to another 50 years!
David Smith, Chairman
After graduating from Agricultural College, David set up a business in 1962, designing and manufacturing poultry equipment, and later, formed another business in leisure activities. Managing the properties associated with the business became an important element in operational running, which he enjoyed. He soon realised that he would rather be a landlord than a tenant.
David sold these businesses in the 1980s’ and formed the Towngate Group, specialising in re-generating old industrial properties, dividing them into more commercially viable units and refurbishing them to modern standards.
Towngate was the place of David’s birth in Clifton, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, and was subsequently taken as the name for the business.
An introduction to David Smith, Chairman.
Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Towngate PLC
1962 - 2012
The sale of David’s original businesses coincided with the Government selling non-core activities such as property. He used the proceeds to purchase a significant number of British Rail’s freehold properties, including Team Valley, Copley Hill (Leeds) and Bridgeman Street (Bolton). Towngate still owns these 3 properties today.
The Towngate Group now has a portfolio of 190 units, with an area totalling 3.3 million sq ft. The properties are located along the M62 from Widnes to Hull with the biggest concentration in Leeds. The company has five qualified surveyors, who together with the Marketing Manager are responsible for maintaining the portfolio as well as liaising with tenants, agents and suppliers.
The formation of Towngate
Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Towngate PLC
Top: Bridgeman StreetLeft: Team Valley Right: Copley Hill
The Towngate Group Headquarters are located in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, on a site purchased in the late 80s’. They form part of the Woodvale Office Park, providing an excellent location for access to the Group’s property portfolio.
In 1876 Richard Kershaw bought the five acre site to build Woodvale Silk Mill. The Mill opened on 28th April 1882 producing silk and silk fabrics and employed 700 people at one time. In about 1903 Kershaw sold the mill to Ormerod Brothers Limited, who closed it down in 1984.
In December 1985, the mill was damaged by fire and consequently the majority of the buildings were demolished in 1986. Towngate refurbished the remaining two original buildings, to form the beginning of Woodvale Office Park.
Since then, further properties have been built, including Woodvale Workshops and Woodvale House, the present Towngate HQ.
Group Headquarters
1962 - 2012
Top: The Former Silk MillLeft: Parkview House Right: Woodvale House
HRH Prince of Wales visits Woodvale
HRH Prince of Wales visited Woodvale Office Park on the 12th June 1991 when the Brighouse Civic Trust nominated the Park for an award. Plaques on the walls at Parkview House and Woodvale House commemorate the event.
In the same year David’s son, Robert, joined the Company, followed by his older brother Alan the next year, at which time they had qualified as Chartered Surveyors. Today the business has two distinct parts and they are the respective Managing Directors
Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Towngate PLC
1962 - 2012
Top: Prince Charles visits Woodvale HouseBottom: Alan and Robert
In 1995 Towngate Homes was formed to build premium residential properties in the Yorkshire Area.
Current developments are located in Mirfield and Halifax, with previous developments including sites at Notton, Colton, Thorner and Horsforth.
Towngate Homes
Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Towngate PLC
Significant Bank Deal
In 2009, Towngate re-negoitiated a £42m facility with Santander and Nationwide. The deal was very important. Steve Forrest, Finance Director for Towngate stated “this agreement secures the company’s funding for the forseeable future, allowing us to take advantage of emerging opportunities”.
Important Transactions
1962 - 2012
The Mancentral Trading Estate, Manchester
In 1984, the Towngate Group purchased the freehold interest in Mancentral Trading Estate through an auction. Mancentral comprised a site of 4.75 acres and included 4 industrial buildings. In 1995 the Group subsequently purchased the head leasehold interest in 14 Arches to the rear of Units C & D at Mancentral Trading Estate.
During Towngate’s period of ownership, occupants on site included Granada Television, who went on to film the award winning comedy drama series, ‘Cold Feet’ from their units on site, along with BSS and Britvic Soft Drinks. The site was sold for redevelopment in September 2003.
Towngate Distribution Centre, Catterick
This property formed part of the Cadburys’ factory, making the famous instant mashed potato ‘Smash’, prior to Towngate purchasing it in 1998.
The property had a total of 6 bays, originally utilised for potato storage, comprising 28,800 sq ft each. It also benefited from a security gatehouse and weighbridge.
The daily flight of the Towngate Advertising Blimp became a regular sight in Catterick, albeit not without its tribulations! The property was eventually sold by the Group in 2004.
The Old Lucozade Factory
The Towngate Group purchased the old Lucozade factory off Manchester Road in Walkden in 1996. The Group has extensively refurbished it to create individual industrial units as part of the Towngate Business Centre
Towngate are delighted to have the site back to full occupancy, considering the successful history it has enjoyed
Wayne Rooney’s Street Soccer
On 25th October 2007, the property became the venue for Wayne Rooney’s Street Soccer Campaign. National Television covered the event
Out-a-Space Event
In 2008, Towngate hosted a breakfast launch at Walkden. The event was aimed at marketing the then vacant space and was well attended. Towngate had adapted one of the larger offices into an ‘Out A Space’ scene and installed a large rocket simulator into the warehouse.
The Towngate Business Centre, Walkden
Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Towngate PLC
1962 - 2012
Top: Agents enjoying the ‘Out A Space’ event. Left: Space suit from the ‘Out A Space’ event.Right: Wayne Rooney’s Street SoccerBottom: The old Lucozade factory
Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Towngate PLC
Towngate has evolved into a forward thinking, pro-active property company over the years. 2001 saw the production of Towngate’s first website, which in turn triggered the process of setting up an in-house marketing department. Since this time, successful marketing campaigns have included; The Towngate Centipede
Advertising Square feet across the M62 corridor. Super Wiggy
A character created to market ‘Super Space’, featuring Towngate’s very own Property Director, John Wignall. Supper Wiggy subsequently featured as advertising campaigns throughout the year.
The Tongue Twister campaign
A series of tongue twisting advertisements, to portray several different marketing messages. On The Dot
A campaign indicating the proximity of the properties to major arterial routes and motorway networks Need More Space
A recent campaign featuring the ‘squashed man’ targeting businesses looking for bigger premises. The Towngate Marketing Department also hosted a number of successful launch events, including the ‘Onion Barge’ - Haigh Park Road, ‘Get in the Driving Seat’ - Widnes, ‘No Jam’ - Cross Green Industrial Estate and the ‘Out - a - Space’ event at Walkden.
Memorable Marketing Campaigns
1962 - 2012
Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Towngate PLC
Towngate Business Centre, Widnes
Towngate purchased the former Golden Wonder factory in 2000 after Golden Wonder utilised the site for crisp manufacturing for 37 years. The site has been significantly refurbished and Towngate has created modern industrial units and a thriving industrial estate. Towngate’s tenants at Widnes have included the BBC; they filmed the drama series, ‘Merseybeat’ within the former Golden Wonder office building.
The recently approved Mersey Gateway Project will see the construction of a bridge between Runcorn and Widnes. Completion is planned for 2015/16 and this will provide a real boost to the local economy.
Haigh Park Road, Leeds
Purchased in 2003, the site includes development land, along with industrial and office units, forming part of a major 94 acre site at Junction 44 M1. The site falls into the Aire Valley Regeneration Scheme, an area of approximately 1,000 ha, to the South East of Leeds City Centre. It has potential to be one of the most significant areas of new investment and jobs in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, with the prospect of releasing 400 ha. of land for development.
In 2004, Towngate hosted an official launch of the property - ‘The Onion Barge’. As the site backs onto the Leeds Canal, a Barge was hired for the day to ferry guests to and from the centre of Leeds. The Indian themed event successfully demonstrated the scope of the site to agents and potential tenants.
Towngate Link, Leeds
In 2003 the Group acquired this 300,000 sq ft site. It is situated within one of Leeds’ largest industrial estates. The units have seen extensive refurbishment by Towngate and the site is now very close to full occupancy with tenants such as Allied Glass and H & A Transport. A 1.5 acre plot of development land remains available, along with Unit 3, which has great main road frontage onto the new East Leeds Link Road.
Noteworthy Acquisitions
1962 - 2012
Top Left: Demolition at Towngate Business Centre, WidnesTop Right: ‘Onion Barge’ at Haigh Park RoadBottom Left: Towngate Business CentreBottom Middle: John Wignall with Mike Falgate of Allied Glass (Tenant at Towngate Link)Bottom Right: Towngate Link
Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Towngate PLC
Founded in Manchester in 1969 and based in Leeds since 1996 Northern Ballet has grown to become one of the UK’s best-loved companies.
In 2011 Northern Ballet identified a need for space - and the Towngate Group were delighted to be able to assist such an important organisation, ensuring that all their valuable sets, scenery and props were stored within secure warehousing at Haigh Park Road, Stourton.
The partnership with Towngate was acknowledged in Northern Ballet’s tour programmes and was included in the programme of its stunning production of Beauty and the Beast, which premiered at Leeds Grand Theatre on the 17th December 2011.
A Beautiful Partnership
1962 - 2012
Towngate celebrate their 50th year!
The Group commissioned Darren Baker to paint David’s portrait to commemorate this achievement and his 25-year service with the Prince’s Trust.
Darren became a highly acclaimed artist with help from David and the Prince’s Trust.
In 2011 he was given the honour of painting the queen.
Towngate PLC Woodvale House, Woodvale Office Park, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 4AB
T 01484 715 635F 01484 722 392
W www.towngate.plc.uk