Work has begun at a £2m extension to a Plymouth business park after a surge in demand for commercial units.
Plymouth City Council has started the third and final phase of its on the Langage Business Park.
Work began in May 2021, with the groundwork, piling foundations and drainage for the scheme all being completed now.
Soon the first steel girders will be put in place, and will frame the building and give a sense of the scale of the 2,355sq m of commercial space to come.
The three units are designed to be flexible with internal party walls that can be removed to allow units to be combined. Additional space can be created at first floor level by expanding the offices or installing mezzanine floors.
The workspace will have solar voltaic panels, high levels of insulation and lift access to units with first floor office accommodation.
Offices will be heated, lit by LED lighting and carpeted, with natural ventilation, extensive glazing to office areas and roof lights within the production space to maximise natural lighting.
The scheme has been designed to be highly efficient and will assist in reducing running costs to occupying businesses. The scheme itself is targeting the highest Energy Performance Certificate rating for commercial buildings of A.
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Facilities include toilet and shower facilities, kitchens, dedicated car parking and large service yards. There will be EV charging pods for vehicles, cycle shelters as well as recycling zones.
Council leader Nick Kelly, Conservative, said: “We are conscious there is a shortage of high quality space for businesses locally, so we are investing and delivering the premises required to encourage expanding firms to flourish or new firms to operate in our city.
“Not only are we helping to meet the demand for employment space for around 70 people, we are helping secure local construction and supply chain jobs.
"Hearder Court Phase 3 is tangible proof that Plymouth has a vibrant and expanding commercial sector that bodes well for the city with the creation of local jobs and that our city is able to meet the needs of the business community."
When complete, the premises will become part of the council’s growing property portfolio, helping to bring in rental income into the city’s services.
The build is being carried out by Devon Contractors, which was awarded the contract following a tendering exercise by the council in 2020.
Stuart O'Higgins, Devon Contractors contracts manager, said: "We are delighted to begin work on this exciting project, which will provide top-quality working space for innovative Plymouth businesses and contribute to the wider economic success of the local area.
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"Devon Contractors will be working hard to ensure the project is finished to the highest standard and ensure positive progress for this important scheme bringing investment and employment opportunities to Plymouth."
Detailed planning was secured in May 2020 and if all goes according to plan, the units should be ready for businesses to move into early in 2021. It is anticipated the units will be in demand and are available to lease now, by way of pre-let.
The the 30,000sq ft Phase One of Hearder Court, named after Plymouth scientist Jonathan Nash Hearder, was completed in July 2015 and was let to Dartmouth Foods Ltd which snapped up all nine units available as part of its expansion.
The second phase started in 2017 and featured a range of unit sizes between 2,000sq ft to 30,000sq ft. Sustainable build features included solar panels, increased levels of insulation, solar reflective glass, aerated taps to minimise water usage and highly efficient boilers.