Hughes Ellard - Offices Sale - Whiteley, Hampshire

Date: 06 Oct 2008

A fire detection equipment specialist with household-name clients is the latest occupier at a new business park near Southampton.

Protec Fire Detection Plc - the largest independently owned business of its kind in the UK - has bought a freehold office for a six-figure undisclosed sum at Fulcrum 4, by Solent Business Park at Whiteley.

The company, which employs more than 700 people at seven centres across the UK, will use the newly-built business unit as its south west regional office.

Nine staff are due to relocate from Protec's current address at Fareham Enterprise Centre, Fareham, later this month (OCTOBER).

A further 20 employees involved in installing of fire detection systems will operate out of the two-storey 3,020 sq ft premises.

Protec clients include supermarket chains Asda and the Co-op as well as the Ministry of Defence and leisure giant Whitbread.

Another client is headquartered a few roads away - National Air Traffic Services, which employs 5,000 people nationally and annually handles some 2.5m flights for 250m passengers.

Fulcrum 4 - part of the largest scheme of its kind between Southampton and Portsmouth - has just finished following a December start.

It is being marketed by Hughes Ellard, John Bird Associates and Lambert Smith Hampton.

Russell Mogridge of Hughes Ellard, speaking of behalf of the agents, said: "This has been an incredibly successful scheme, with eight of the 12 units, which range in size from 3,000 sq ft to 7,500 sq ft, already sold or let.

"We're confident of being able to call 'full house' in the near future."

Protec general manager Terry Barber, who lives near Fareham, said the purchase concluded an 18-month search for the right high-standard property, with flexible accommodation and excellent access to the M27 and M3.

He added: "The purchase of this property reflects our confidence in the UK systems market place and will help us to continue to develop our business on the south coast and south west, ensuring we continue to offer our customers the very best levels of service."

Protec, which has been at Fareham for seven years, designs, manufactures, installs and services fire detection equipment.

The mid-terrace unit has first-floor offices, with storage and scope for a meeting room on the ground floor.

The commercial development is the second stage of a £43m speculative scheme over 14 acres by national property company Allied Developments, providing a mix of business accommodation, including purpose-built offices, hi-tech buildings for research and development and light assembly.

Other occupiers at Fulcrum 4 include Seacom, Blue Ocean Wireless, County Locksmiths, CDS Rail, Grapefruit Graphics, Hi Spec Corporation and Concept Roofing & Cladding.