Redhill Business Park

cardigan29

Well-Known Forumite
I can't help but mention (but won't dwell on it) that not one job has yet to be created here yet despite it having been finished god knows how long ago.

According to http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-19899662 it was due to be finished 3 years ago and "The employment park could create in excess of 2,500 jobs – more than initially estimated."

Given that General Electric (Alstom) seem to be taking half of the plots then I'd be surprised if even 500 new jobs end up being created in the end.

Apparently the whole site is now nearly fully occupied: https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Ne...pmentgetsunderwayattopcountybusinesspark.aspx - apart from the main unit for GE being what looks like nearly finished and a new one for another company only just being started on, there are just roads and empty plots.


Anyway, moaning out of the way, I had a cycle over there the other week in the evening (cycling or walking is the only way you will get in as they barricade the entrance on the A34 so you can't drive in there). There was a guy in a hut on security who said it was fine to go around - he was just there stopping the plant from getting nicked.

I was pretty impressed with the paths and decking they have laid on the outskirts that take in woods/ponds/lake etc. Here's a few pics to give you an idea:

1.jpg

2.jpg

3.jpg


I've got 8 more pics but it appears 3 is all you can upload. I'll create the thread and see if I can post more afterwards.
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Build it and they shall come
To the conclusion that
Pies often look better
In the sky with white
Elephants
 

alphagamma

Well-Known Forumite
One job they created when the site was virtually empty was to pay a bloke to sit in his Audi at the entrance all day, taking an occasional trip to McDs to stock up on cholesterol.
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
5 units have been taken apart from the two GE sites there is a large company Trebor from brum are moving its operations. Not sure of the others.

that said your completed 3 years ago timeline is way off.

the a34 completion was way.behind schedule thanks to those pesky newts and severn trent needing to do additional work at the 11th hour. This was not completed until way into 2014 and the road layout and site work was late 2014.

instead of just building random the council decided they would build units to meet the requirements for those who wanted them.

once the companies came on board the council (I think county) submitted plans for approval for the units in July 2015 the for partial completion by late summer/ early autumn 2016.

In alstoms/GEs own press release they will not move in until the end of 2016 and they will be the first.

so it seems everything is kind of schedule.
 
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Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Regards the site, I agree they have done a top top job. This is probably the best site I have seen of its kind and I seen a few.

its not open yet and is already up for an award mainly because of its consideration for nature and the environment.

this will be a real asset to the town when its open.
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
5 units have been taken apart from the two GE sites there is a large company Trebor from brum are moving its operations. Not sure of the others.

that said your completed 3 years ago timeline is way off.

the a34 completion was way.behind schedule thanks to those pesky newts and severn trent needing to do additional work at the 11th hour. This was not completed until way into 2014 and the road layout and site work was late 2014.

instead of just building random the council decided they would build units to meet the requirements for those who wanted them.

once the companies came on board the council (I think county) submitted plans for approval for the units in July 2015 the for partial completion by late summer/ early autumn 2016.

In alstoms/GEs own press release they will not move in until the end of 2016 and they will be the first.

so it seems everything is kind of schedule.

I understood Trebor/Rockspring were the developers of 2 units, not the occupants

Am I incorrect?
 

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
Why did they have to build the A34 access would it not have been possible to access from shackelton on the existing site ?
 

alphagamma

Well-Known Forumite
They need to do something about cycle access. The track from the link road lights narrows by the lay-by, so when the trucks park up their doors block it. Worse, it's quite likely you get a door opened in your face. Further stupidity is caused by having a burger van parked there as well, and the hedge blocks half the track, anyway.

Then if you come along the A34 from the north the traffic lights aren't controlled, so you have to wait for a vehicle coming out of the estate to set them off. And if you try to continue on the cycle track south it dumps you by the roundabout where it's virtually impossible to cross the road. Then if you do make it across the roundabout the road down to Holmcroft is a pot-holed nightmare, as it's been since about 1970, with no sign of the council doing anything about it..

So much for the pro-cycling policy. Do they have anyone in the council who rides bikes? If Boris can do it, then our £300k per year CEO could try. Getting people out of cars might stop Stafford from being totally gridlocked.
 

gilbert grape

Well-Known Forumite
The one unit, accessed from the A34 will be moved into tis October. This is the relays and automation business of GE. I work for one of the other units and we have only just had clearance for our building to be built, so this is soon starting and we will move there before the end of 2017. Yes, on all plans I have seen, this will be a separate site, as the road at the end of Hurricane way stops at the access point to GAP and goes no further. Plans show it doesn't link up so all our access will be via the A34 junction.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
So much for the pro-cycling policy. Do they have anyone in the council who rides bikes? If Boris can do it, then our £300k per year CEO could try. Getting people out of cars might stop Stafford from being totally gridlocked.
Cycle provision is often a symbolic affair.
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
The one unit, accessed from the A34 will be moved into tis October. This is the relays and automation business of GE. I work for one of the other units and we have only just had clearance for our building to be built, so this is soon starting and we will move there before the end of 2017. Yes, on all plans I have seen, this will be a separate site, as the road at the end of Hurricane way stops at the access point to GAP and goes no further. Plans show it doesn't link up so all our access will be via the A34 junction.

I was told a while back that the two sites don't link because someone owns the narrow strip of land between the two sites and is, allegedly, holding the Council to ransom, by demanding an extortionate price for the land.
 

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
I was told a while back that the two sites don't link because someone owns the narrow strip of land between the two sites and is, allegedly, holding the Council to ransom, by demanding an extortionate price for the land.
I wonder who that could be?
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
I was told a while back that the two sites don't link because someone owns the narrow strip of land between the two sites and is, allegedly, holding the Council to ransom, by demanding an extortionate price for the land.


No idea who but..

The company - once known as ICI - bought swathes of land surrounding the town off farmers some considerable time ago.

Almost as if it knew we would have local authority leadership like wot we had
 

AndyST17

King Fox
Well I can inform you that I've got a site tour on Thursday and my contract with one of the tenants of the site starts Monday morning. Not sure when they move in but we're required 24/7 from Monday.
 

cj1

Well-Known Forumite
had a walk over there yesterday quite impressed with how much they have done to protect the wildlife
 
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