Onward Holdings Ltd has invested in excess of £250,000 in renewable energy systems for three of its sites for storage and logistics operations, which will benefit its business tenants through lower electricity bills as well as boosting their green credentials.
The family-run business has been supplied with high performance, 50-100kVA solar arrays for the rooftops of its facilities based in Castleford, Featherstone and South Kirkby. The installations carried out by Class Energy are a significant investment in each site by Onward Holdings.
With the current volatility of the energy market, the commercial solar power systems are a great opportunity for businesses seeking warehouse space to control their costs and demonstrate to customers their commitment to the environment through sustainable energy technology and a lower carbon footprint.
In addition to the new solar panels, all three sites have the advantage of being close to the motorway networks for fast delivery to all parts of the UK, the railway freight network, Humber ports and regional airports. They are in superb locations and can be utilised for a wide variety of uses, subject to planning permission.
The Willowbridge Lane site in Castleford is an ideal warehouse base for those needing to quickly move and/or store goods in the north of England. The solar panels will power a host of facilities making it one of the best locations for those using containers. These include two dock levellers for the loading and unloading of containers and also box vans.
At its site in Featherstone Unit 4 is a 1.6 acre development of up to 20,000sqft providing a potential logistics operation with scope for a service area for trucks. It has planning permission allowing for construction to commence in a matter of months. Unit 5 is made up of four acres with a footprint for warehousing of up to 70,000sqft – planning permission for this unit should be quickly forthcoming.
Meanwhile, the installation of the solar photovoltaic system at the strategically located Langthwaite facility on the edge of South Kirkby near Wakefield, follows a £1million investment in security measures at the business park meaning the site is suitable for both ordinary and high risk products.
Government initiatives are expected to drive significant future growth in the Yorkshire and Humber region, meaning demand for suitable sites for warehouses and logistics operations is expected to outstrip current supply.
Spiralling power costs might have tailed off recently due to the drop in oil prices, but by installing solar panels at the sites it operates in Featherstone, Castleford and South Kirkby, Onward Holdings is future proofing energy generation as well as cheaper electricity, making the locations even more attractive to businesses looking for a distribution hub in the north of England.
Onward Holdings director Neil Storey says: “This significant investment in renewable energy provides a long term return from otherwise idle roof space at these three prime locations to help control energy costs and grid consumption, which is good for businesses and good for the environment.”
If you would like more details visit www.yorkshirewarehousing.com or call on 01977 614007. Site promotions are being handled by Andrew Miller Chartered Surveyors of Sheffield.
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Background
Onward Holdings has been involved in warehousing and industrial estates owned and run by the company since 1930. Today, this family-run business is primarily involved in development and construction, including the provision of multi-sized warehouse facilities in the M62/M1/A1 corridor of West Yorkshire, and residential and mixed-use developments.
In addition to Willowbridge Lane and Langthwaite Business Park, the business has developed a former coal mine near Barnsley into a gleaming new retail park. ONYX Retail Park, comprising 17,500 square feet of retail space, is based in Wath-Upon-Dearne and is located at the former Manvers main colliery, an area of major regeneration.
