BARBERRY WELCOMES BUSINESS GURU LORD DIGBY

By hannah | April 6, 2011

barberry-group-and-digby-jones

Lord Digby Jones (right) joins the Barberry Developments team (from left) Jon Bellfield, Mike Winters, Paul Watson, Gil Hayward, Martyn Cartwright, Henry Bellfield and Alex Watson at the company’s headquarters in Belbroughton, West Midlands.

The Government’s new Enterprise Zones and other measures announced in George Osborne’s recent Budget were at the top of the agenda when business expert Lord Digby Jones visited Barberry Developments.

The former director general of the CBI was greeted by board members of the commercial property developers, including chairman Gil Hayward and managing director Jon Bellfield, at the company’s headquarters in Belbroughton, Worcestershire.

Lord Digby, who has been an advisor to Barberry for several years, discussed the announcement that the West Midlands would get two of the 21 new Enterprise Zones announced by the Chancellor a few days ago.

Business leaders have welcomed the news that Birmingham and Solihull, and the Black Country, will be among the locations for the job creation and business support initiatives which offer rates and tax concessions in order to encourage business growth. Other new measures and legislation affecting the commercial property development sector were discussed by the Barberry board.

Jon Bellfield said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome Digby and we value his expert advice very highly. He has been a friend of Barberry Developments for many years. Barberry is currently involved in several major projects, and we are always actively looking for opportunities, so there was much to discuss.”

Lord Digby Jones said: “In these challenging times it is a delight to feel such a sense of professionalism and intelligent investment in a property business here in the heart of the West Midlands.  Cuts are essential to rebalance the economy but they will never grow it, and Government must now do everything it can to enable the private sector to take up the slack, create jobs and make tax-generating profits.”

Barberry Developments recently lodged an outline planning application for a £50 million superstore and retail development at the site of the former Royal Mail Sorting Centre in Coventry. It is also involved in plans to build around 800 homes and create a new ‘community village’ in Droitwich, Worcestershire.

Lord Digby spent six and a half years as Director General of the CBI. In 2005 he was knighted for his services to business and became Sir Digby Jones in the Queen’s New Years Honours List.

When he left the CBI in 2006 he spent the next 12 months in the private sector as advisor to Deloitte and Barclays Capital, held a variety of non-executive board roles, and was the unpaid UK Skills Envoy. In 2007 he was appointed Minister of State for UK Trade & Investment and became a life peer taking the title, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham. Now, in addition to his role as an active crossbencher in the House of Lords, he serves as Chairman of the International Business Advisory Boards at HSBC and British Airways, Chairman of Triumph Motorcycles Limited, and is Corporate Ambassador for Jaguar Cars and JCB.

Topics: News |

BARBERRY’S PLANNING BID FOR £50MILLION CITY CENTRE SUPERSTORE

By Barques | March 16, 2011

bishop-gate-night-view

An artist’s impression of how the Bishop Gate development by Barberry Developments could look at night.

Barberry Developments has submitted a planning application to transform part of Coventry city centre with an exciting new multi-million-pound superstore development.

The Midlands-based company announced the move today (Thursday, March 10th) during the MIPIM commercial property event in Cannes, France, where it has joined the Coventry City Council-led delegation putting the city on the international stage.

Barberry purchased the 200,000 sq ft former Royal Mail Sorting Centre and adjoining properties, including 50 Bishop Street, last year and is seeking planning permission for a large and comprehensive retail-led scheme on the site. The development will be known as Bishop Gate.

The 3.5 acre proposed scheme will produce a completed development value of around £50 million. The proposals were unveiled during public consultations in February.

Speaking at MIPIM in Cannes Henry Bellfield, director of Barberry Developments, said: “We have taken into account the views expressed during the consultation exercise and we are delighted to announce that we have now submitted an application for outline planning consent for the exciting Bishop Gate development. This clearly demonstrates our commitment to both the project and the city. There is a huge amount of work involved in reaching this stage with a project of this magnitude. The team at Barberry is grateful for the support shown by Coventry City Council throughout the process and we look forward to delivering a scheme which will transform this part of the city centre.”

He added: “We are continuing to work closely with the council on the scheme which totals circa 400,000 sq ft to incorporate a supermarket superstore, a fitness/leisure centre and associated on-site car parking.  Following the closure of the Royal Mail Sorting Office this part of the city centre is in desperate need of new investment and redevelopment.  The plans are hugely exciting and will create hundreds of jobs for local people.”

Councillor Linda Bigham, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for city development, said: “I am very excited about the development in this area of the city. There will be something here of interest to everyone, as well as making it easier to get to and from the city centre and the Canal Basin.  The partnership with Barberry proves once again that Coventry is looking to the future, even during times of economic pressures.”

A planning application has been submitted this week and it is hoped that, subject to receipt of planning consent, work could begin on site later this year. The existing Royal Mail building would be demolished. The proposals include removing the pedestrian bridge across the ring road to the canal basin and replacing it with a ground level crossing.  The move would greatly improve the connectivity of the city centre and the canal basin.

Mr Bellfield added: “Coventry City Council has been incredibly positive in terms of supporting the development proposals which is very refreshing. There is a real positive sentiment in the council and both officers and councillors are motivated to see great things happen. We believe our development fits in perfectly with the regeneration master-plan for the city centre which sets out the council’s vision for the future.”

The development proposals include:


Topics: News, Retail and Leisure |

BARBERRY STAMP OF APPROVAL FOR SORTING OFFICE TRIBUTE

By Barques | March 16, 2011

barberry-talking-birds1

Henry Bellfield, director of Barberry Developments, joins Talking Birds actresses Julie Boyle (left) and Kerry Reading.

An art groups’ tribute to Coventry’s former Royal Mail Sorting Centre, which is expected to be transformed into a £50 million superstore, has been given the property developer’s stamp of approval.

Barberry Developments welcomed the Talking Birds arts company’s imaginative creation of a temporary gallery dedicated to the empty Bishop Street building and other sorting offices.

Midlands-based Barberry has completed the purchase of the 200,000 sq ft former Royal Mail Sorting Centre and adjoining properties, including 50 Bishop Street, and is planning a large and comprehensive retail-led scheme on the site. The development will be known as Bishop Gate. The company allowed talking Birds to use the empty premises to stage its show, A City Grown From Words.

Nick Walker, of Talking Birds, said: “We’ve been exploring the interesting by-product of development, whereby developers with imagination – like Barberry – are open to the opportunity afforded by temporarily empty sites. Artists can enliven the space, albeit temporarily, and mark the transition from one type of use to another. Many of the more interesting art projects that happen in towns and cities across the country are down to developers working with artists before the bulldozers get to work. It’s a way of allowing the public to say goodbye to an old use of the city, before saying hello to a new one.”
A City Grown From Words was supported by the Department of Art and Design, Coventry University, Arts Council England, Coventry City Council through its Small Arts Grants scheme, and property developers Barberry.

Barberry director Henry Bellfield said: “We were approached by Talking Birds who wanted to create a homage to Coventry’s sorting offices and were delighted to make the space at 50 Bishop Street available to them. The Royal Mail Sorting Centre played a key role in the lives of Coventry people for many years until the operations were transferred to two smaller sorting offices in Coventry and a large new facility in Northampton.

“This show highlighted the fact that millions of mail items passed through the building to and from local people. We’re now looking forward to beginning an exciting new era which we hope will see the Bishop Street area transformed with a superstore development for Coventry people to enjoy.”    
Nick added: “Following the recent emptying of the Bishop Street sorting office, Talking Birds created a temporary gallery work about the city’s now deserted sorting offices. Coventry has always had a lot of mail passing in and out and through it. At one point, the Bishop Street sorting office handled more mail than any other in the country.

“Perhaps this was because the city had a lot to say, and those elsewhere had a lot to say back to the city. At any rate, there has always been such a volume of post – love letters, bills, postcards, job offers, dear Johns, good news, bad news, wedding invitations, official notifications, pay cheques, good luck cards, sorry to hear cards, and letters to Santa – flowing through Coventry that it’s easy to feel that the sorting offices still hum them, even once the building has become empty.”

Barberry’s development proposals include:


Topics: News, Office |

BARBERRY UNVEILS £50M CITY CENTRE SUPERMARKET SCHEME

By Barques | March 2, 2011

barberry-bishop-gate-from-lower-bishop-street-latest

An artist’s impression of Barberry Developments’ proposed Bishop Gate superstore and retail development in Coventry, view from Lower Bishop Street.

Plans to transform part of Coventry city centre with an exciting new multi-million-pound superstore, retail and leisure development are being unveiled.

Midlands-based Barberry Developments has completed the purchase of the 200,000 sq ft former Royal Mail Sorting Centre and adjoining properties, including 50 Bishop Street, and is planning a large and comprehensive retail-led scheme on the site. The development will be known as Bishop Gate.

Henry Bellfield, director of Barberry Developments, said: “We are working closely with Coventry City Council and hope to finalise in the coming weeks a planning application for a scheme totalling circa 400,000 sq ft to incorporate a supermarket superstore, non-food retail units, a fitness centre and associated on-site car parking.

“Following the closure of the Royal Mail Sorting Office this part of the city centre is in desperate need of new investment and redevelopment.  The plans we are currently working on are hugely exciting and will create hundreds of jobs for local people.”

The site comprises approximately 3.5 acres with the proposed scheme producing a completed development value of around £50 million, added Mr Bellfield. The proposals are due to be unveiled at a public consultation at Coventry Council House on Thursday, February 17th.

A planning application will be submitted this month and it is hoped that, following receipt of planning consent, work could begin on site later this year. The existing Royal Mail building would be demolished. Barberry and Coventry City Council are also looking at proposals to remove the pedestrian bridge across the ring road to the canal basin and replace it with a ground level crossing.  The move would greatly improve the connectivity of the city centre and the basin.

Councillor Linda Bigham, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for city development said: “I am delighted that this area is being developed in such a positive way.  The sorting office is in a great location, just off our ring road. We are looking forward to seeing Barberry’s plans for this mixed-use development which should really help to improve the connection between the city centre and the canal basin. Despite the difficult economic climate Coventry is still open for business and it is encouraging that we can still work with developers like Barberry to continue our regeneration programme and to create jobs for local people.”

Mr Bellfield added: “Coventry City Council has been incredibly positive in terms of supporting the superstore and large retail space which is very refreshing. There is a huge positive sentiment in the council and they are motivated to see great things happen. We believe our development fits in perfectly with the regeneration masterplan for the city centre which sets out the council’s vision for the future.”

The development proposals include:


Topics: News, Retail and Leisure |

NEW ‘VILLAGE COMMUNITY’ PLANS UNVEILED

By Barques | March 2, 2011

Barberry Developments, Persimmon Homes and Exeter College are beginning public consultations over plans to create a new village community of up to 800 new homes in Worcestershire.

Local residents have been invited to view plans for the Yew Tree Village development in Droitwich Spa and discuss the scheme with planners and company representatives.

Barberry director Martyn Cartwright said Yew Tree Village would address the growing demand for new homes in the Droitwich area. The 44 hectare site will include 14.4 hectares of open space.

Proposals for the site, which is surrounded by existing housing, include:

The primary vehicular access to the site will be from two points on Pulley Lane. The scheme has been designed to allow bus access into the site by re-opening and improving the junction of Newland Road with Primsland Way for a pedestrian/cycle and bus only link.

The development aims to promote and implement sustainable living and high quality design that is specific to the site and the surrounding context. The main design objectives are:

Mr Cartwright said: “The site offers an excellent opportunity to create a vibrant new addition to the existing community, with a carbon footprint that is minimised, and by helping to create a quality of life that is exceptional. Yew Tree Village will have homes for people at all stages of life along with health facilities, local shops and a generous amount of high quality public open space to create a new village community.

“Barton Willmore are master planners and they will be delivering the public consultation exercise, inviting questions from local residents. We have also carried out a leaflet drop with a comments form, set up an email address inviting comments, and launched a Yew Tree Village website.

“We are aware that with housing schemes of this nature it isn’t possible to please everybody. However, we believe this is an excellent development and it will greatly enhance the current housing provision in Droitwich where we believe there are more than 3,000 people on the social housing waiting list.”

Barberry, Exeter College and Persimmon Homes propose to carry out a comprehensive development of the site and have appointed Barton Willmore as consultants to prepare the masterplan. The development aims to promote and implement sustainable living to create a high quality residential/care home scheme that is specific to the site and the surrounding context. The masterplan will be the subject of an application for outline planning permission shortly.

The first phase of public consultations is due to take place at Droitwich Spa Community Hall, Heritage Way, Droitwich Spa, on Friday 18th February, 1.00pm to 6.00pm, and Saturday 19th February, 10.00am to 2.00pm. For more information please visit www.yewtreevillage.co.uk.

Topics: News, Residential |

BARBERRY BREATHES A FRESH LEASE OF LIFE INTO PHOENIX RETAIL PARK COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

By Barques | October 18, 2010

Topics: News |

BARBERRY ACQUIRE ROYAL MAIL SORTING OFFICE IN COVENTRY

By Barques | October 12, 2010

Topics: Office |

BARBERRY SIGN UP BLACKS LEISURE AT 40-50 HIGH STREET LEICESTER

By katherine | September 29, 2010

Barberry Group have let a total of 7,500 sq ft at 40-50 High Street, Leicester to The Outdoor Group, trading as Blacks, following the departure of Habitat from the retail space.

The property is a modern purpose built retail unit spread over three floors, with the unit formerly occupied by Habitat now split into four units. This decision has attracted Blacks to the largest of the units, which includes 2,700 sq ft on the ground floor and 4,800 sq ft on the first floor.  

40-50 High Street is opposite the recently completed Highcross Shopping centre anchored by retail giant John Lewis. Following its pedestrianisation the High Street has been transformed and now forms an integral link between Highcross and Humberstone Gate.

This is a huge boost to the area as Leicester is the largest and most dominant economy within the East Midlands, with an urban population of 330,574 and a district population of 758,148 within a 12-mile radius of the city centre. The new Blacks store will act as a destination store in an enviable position on the high street opposite one of the principal entrances to Highcross.

Work on site has recently been completed, and Blacks are now trading on the ground and first floors under a ten-year lease.

Martyn Cartwright, Director at Barberry added:
“40-50 High Street is a prime retail unit in a superb location in Leicester, and we are thrilled to have attracted such a high calibre occupier into one of the units. We chose to split the retail space up into units following the departure of Habitat as the occupational market is currently stronger for smaller units, and this decision has clearly paid off with the letting to Blacks.”

Two further ground floor units are available within the development, totalling 1,000 sq ft and 1,500 sq ft respectively. The self-contained third floor offers a further 5,500 sq ft of accommodation.
blacks-frontage

Topics: News |

PHASE ONE OF PHOENIX RETAIL PARK LET TO B&M RETAIL

By katherine | August 19, 2010

Following the thorough modernisation of Phoenix Retail Park, Swansea, phase one of the development has been let to B&M Retail, operators of the B&M Bargains chain of stores.

Barberry acquired the first generation retail park in 2008, and have now committed to an extensive refurbishment of the park including re-configuring the car park and providing a new access road from Fenrod Way to the front of the scheme. Already an established retail destination with nearby retailers including Tesco Extra, Carpet Right and Comet, B&M Retail have taken 18,900 sq ft on a 15 year lease.

B&M Retail are already open and trading well at Phoenix Retail Park under their brand name of B&M Bargains. The principle behind the discount retailer is to sell top brands at the lowest possible prices, creating a new type of “branded” discount retailing which is a far cry from the days of “pile it high and sell it cheap” discount stores. They are one of the UK’s fastest growing retailers with 190 stores, with their massive growth attributed to rising customer awareness as their geographic footprint extends. The stores attract over 1 million shoppers per week, helping them to achieve a 140% growth in profits in 2009.

Simon Arora, Managing Director of B&M Retail says of the new store:

“As we have experienced unprecedented growth since our formation in 2004, we have been looking to expand further south from our home market in the North West for quite some time. Having the store at Phoenix Retail park means we are better equipped to serve the needs of our customers in Swansea and the surrounding area. Phoenix Retail Park is an ideal location close to the centre of Swansea yet provides the floor space we require. We are certain that this will be a lucrative investment for us and footfall to the store will be high.”

Phoenix Retail Park is ideally located within four miles of the city centre and has excellent access to junctions 44/45 of the M4.  Barberry have gained planning permission to improve the access roads from Phoenix Way into the retail park. and have also committed to providing a new access road from Fendrod Way to the front of the scheme. These works are due to commence shortly and will provide easy access to the retail park, ensuring this is a prime retail destination for years to come.

There have been strong expressions of interest in the second phase of this development, with work already starting on site to refurbish the remaining 45,000 sq ft of open A1 retail space, and modernise and reconfigure the car park. The estimated completion date for the refurbishment work is September.

phoenix-retail-park-cgi

www.phoenixretailpark.co.uk

Topics: News |

IDENTITY THEFT WARNING

By Barques | June 14, 2010

Please be aware that an unknown individual(s) is currently passing himself off as an officer/employee of the Barberry group of companies, and in particular, Henry Bellfield.

To date, he has been ordering significant quantities (30-40) of goods such as; vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, TV’s etc. This matter has been reported to the police who are currently investigating the situation. The individual does not have the authority to bind any of the Barberry group companies and/or Henry Bellfield. Any queries/enquiries should be checked via the registered office and/or via 01562 731 300 only.

Topics: News |

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