A Greater Manchester council has announced plans to build £20m of new industrial units after its portfolio reached 100% capacity.
Rochdale Council said on Thursday its portfolio of 118 units is now at full occupancy - and that there is still a "lengthy waiting list" of firms hoping to move to the borough.
The council's property portfolio manager is Rochdale Development Agency, which is soon to go out to tender on a new 13-unit, 24,000sq ft development near Oldham Road.
One of newest arrivals to the borough is D&G Utilities, which moved into Rochdale Council's Logic development at Kingsway Business Park.
Managing director Richard Bennett said: “Our headquarters are in Rotherham but we were attracted to the high existing skillset in Rochdale and we felt we could tap into it. We’re right next to the M62 and we can manufacture from this site. It’s perfect for us.”
Bob Neave, of Bob’s Biltong, has two units at Phoenix Close Industrial Estate in Heywood with a third one undergoing a fit-out.
He said: “We came to the 海角视频 nearly 20 years ago from South Africa and settled in Rochdale.
"I started Bob’s Biltong from my house but as it grew I took on industrial space and found Rochdale was the perfect place to base my business. We currently have six staff but have plans to grow further.”
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Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for regeneration, business, skills and employment at Rochdale Borough Council, said the borough was getting calls on a daily basis from companies looking for space in Rochdale.
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Cllr Blundell said: “They’re all occupied and there’s a massive demand for units at the moment. We saw a lot of interest, particularly over the lockdown period, from logistics companies and businesses that are expanding.
“We haven’t lost a single tenant due to Covid-19. We’ve had a couple of tenants deciding to retire but these units have been re let immediately.
“We’ve got a pipeline of about £20m worth of projects coming forward across various sites in the borough.”
He said the rent collection for the last quarter to the end of September was 95%.
The council’s portfolio of 118 industrial buildings across 10 estates total 172,000 sq ft of commercial space.
Cllr Blundell added: “Our occupants range from SMEs to sole traders. Rochdale’s resilience has shone through during Covid-19. Businesses have continued to trade through the pandemic. A lot of them are online businesses, which has helped.