The new HQ for Towergate Insurance at Eclipse Park is now within weeks of completion. Early access to the ground and first floor offices has already been provided to the fit out contractor and the second floor will be made available on 11^th August. Towergate will receive the entire building in September and they will be operating from the building in November 2008.   

Towergate employs more than 3,800 people across its 100 UK offices. Their new HQ at Eclipse Park (adjacent to junction 7 of the M20) totals 38,000 sq feet of high-quality, modern office space over 4 floors and occupies a prime position at the gateway to Maidstone.

Towergate is Europe’s largest independent insurance intermediary and recognised as one of the leading 50 companies in Kent.

Paul Dyer, co-founder of Towergate commented: “The new HQ will give us room to expand. Plus, Maidstone is a commercial catchment area for readily available, skilled employees. This will be vital when we recruit new members of staff for our expanding business in our new headquarters. Eclipse Park was a natural choice thanks to its excellent location and communications links, plus it is in an area that has a ready supply of highly skilled people.”

Every year the Hilton Maidstone raises funds for the Hilton in the Community Foundation and this year is no exception. A week of events leading up to the finale on Sunday 29^th June saw staff walking, running, rowing or cycling around the Hotel to raise as much money as possible for the Foundation.  The nominated charity is the Guide Dogs for Blind Association .

On Thursday 26th June the Maidstone Borough Council Planning Committee granted planning permission for buildings 6, 7 & 8 at Eclipse Park.  The vote was 11 for, 1 against and 1 abstention.

Aylesford & Chatham MP and DEFRA Minister Jonathan Shaw recently visited the Gallagher Group Head Quarters at Little Preston, Aylesford.  He was met by Chief Executive, Nick Yandle to discuss the company’s current activities and future plans.  Mr Shaw was then taken on a visit to Hermitage Quarry, the largest ragstone producing site in the South East, and was impressed with the reinstatement work that has now come to maturity.  The estate extends over hundreds of acres of grazing land and managed woodland projects, that include public footpaths and trails for horse riding.

Mr Shaw was interested to hear how we work with local Government Departments, train our people and our Work Experience programme.  He is keen that the Government departments work to a co-ordinated agenda and with a partnership approach and was therefore interested to hear how organisations such as The Highways Agency are working with developers.

The first turbine was moved by road on 13th June to its new permanent location. It is one of 26 turbines that will be situated at Little Cheyne Court, where workers have been onsite for 8 months preparing the concrete foundations. These are well over 100 feet deep requiring over 15,000 cubic meters of concrete and has meant the removal of in excess of 46,000 lorry loads of spoil from the area. It is expected that it will take 3 days to erect the first turbine, which will be bolted onto pre-prepared foundations, and weigh in at approximately 140 tonnes.

This development project by NPower Renewables is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 33,000 homes in the area and will stand 115 metres high. Completion day for the erection of the turbines is early autumn and the site will be fully operational early next year. When finished this will be the South East’s largest onshore wind farm.

Results from a survey conducted by Maidstone Borough Council revealed negative perceptions held by its residents. Primarily, concerns focus on the need for improvements to public toilets, car parking and traffic congestion. In response, Maidstone Borough Council has promoted recommendations to address these perceptions directly, some of which relate to the Strategic Plan. This negative image, it seems, is not the perception of potential investors. Indeed, Locate in Kent reported Maidstone as the ‘most popular business location in Kent’.

Businesses considering Maidstone have different priorities. Maidstone is a major commercial centre within the South East of England and the administrative centre for the County of Kent. The area benefits from excellent transport links being located directly adjacent to the M20 motorway which directly links into the M25 motorway approximately 10 miles away.

Knight Frank recently reported that investment and demand for offices is there, the supply is slowing, especially within the Town Centre, where a lack of grade A space has led to rental values plummeting. Downs Mail reinforced this view by commenting on businesses’ need for well-located sites for quality developments (Eclipse Park new J7 is popular).

Gallagher Group, the team behind Eclipse Park, went into the development speculatively two years ago – a risk, even in a successful office market, but it has subsequently paid off. “We launched Eclipse Park as a speculative business development and a lot of people said that was very brave, or really stupid,” says Pat Gallagher, chairman of Gallagher Group. “But it has worked. There are occupiers who want to be in the town, who need the space. Where else can you get a town with four major motorway junctions serving it? Even Reading has only got three.”

Development of Eclipse Park may encourage more letting activity and broaden the scope of Maidstone office market moving forward. John Foster, economic development manager at Maidstone Borough Council, says it recognises the town’s successes and is building on them. “Maidstone has intrinsically got the right qualities to be the commercial, office and shopping centre of Kent because its location is second to none.”

Maidstone has the largest business economy in Kent with over 7,000 businesses and is one of the top 5 retail centres in the South East. With residential property around 37% cheaper and office rents up to 60% cheaper than London, the area has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.

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David Slack, Partner of Cluttons (and now Smithsgore) said: “I have received a number of very complimentary comments over the standard of work and the speed and efficiency of the Gallagher team carrying out the car park remodelling work around the Hilton Hotel.”

He continued: “I have heard at first hand from different people how impressed they were with the work that has been undertaken – if only everyone were as quick and efficient as the Gallagher team. What they do is important and makes a very valuable contribution.”

The works involved extensive changes to the roads, parking and landscaping around the hotel whilst maintaining the hotel operation without disturbance. This follows the purchase of two acres of land from the Hilton / RBS to the east of the hotel. The land now forms the plot for building 4 and has enabled Gallagher to construct an additional access road into Eclipse Park from Bearsted Road.

Phase 2 plans involve progressing design work for a 70,000 sq ft office building on that plot.

Gallagher is also pleased with detailed designs for buildings 6, 7 and 8. Furthermore, market research and basic design work is underway for a seven-storey hotel on the plot to the north of the Towergate building.

In addition, further plans are being developed with Maidstone Borough Council for the relocation of the park and ride operation away from Eclipse Park, a proposal to be phased over the next two years. This transition would make open the way for the future of phase 3 development.

The project is on a three-acre site at Parkwood, south of Maidstone and is worth over £3 million. The design and build project involves two-thirds building and a third civil engineering work. In addition to the modern office and administration building the project involves a large area of external car parking and concrete hard standing. Gallagher will deliver a complete package with the early involvement of our design & build team who will help to refine the design, obtain planning permission and then undertake the construction to meet the aspirations of Maidstone Borough Council. Works are due to commence on site in November 2008 and complete in 33 weeks.

The Gallagher team includes Cornish Architects, dha Planning, Paul Owen Associates (structural engineers) and ESP (mechanical engineers).

Aylesford Gateway Ltd has agreed a five-year lease with Saint Gobain Building Limited whose subsidiary Minster Insulations will use the property, transferring their operation from Tunbridge Wells.

The lease transaction was handled by the property department of Jewson, who are also part of the Saint Gobain Group. The site has 70,000 sq ft of high bay warehousing with offices and hard standing.

Aylesford Gateway Ltd part of the Gallagher Group company secured a three acre site formerly known as Consolidated Paper House, very close to junction 6 of the M20, in December 2007.

Minster Insulations had approached John Foster, Economic Development Manager, Maidstone Borough Council, requesting any suitable sites and the Aylesford Gateway site was recommended. The move will bring approximately 30 new jobs to Maidstone.

Site works are currently being completed including refurbishment to the office areas, new perimeter fencing and concreting a yard extension. Minster Insulations will then have some fitting out works to do and will be fully operational in September 2008. In the longer term, Aylesford Gateway plan to redevelop the site.

The new corporate identity marks a significant milestone for Gallagher, currently celebrating 35 years in construction in Kent. Nick Yandle, chief executive said: "The modern new look for Gallagher brings a greater sense of vibrancy to our existing distinctive colours and demonstrates how our team of highly skilled and experienced people offer a complete solution to customers."  He continued: "Gallagher has as 35-year connection to Kent and a reputation for getting things done with energy and enthusiasm. We are committed to investing in the environment and the communities we operate in. The new identity will support our continued steady growth."

The company has also launched a new website that provides a fresh, modern overview of what Gallagher does www.gallagher-group.co.uk.

An updated corporate brochure will be the first of piece of literature produced in the new look and will be the defining piece of collateral for Gallagher's identity. The website will be used to announce further news of the roll-out.

When Radio 1 descended on Maidstone for its annual music festival, One Big Weekend, at Mote Park in May 2008, it spoke volumes about how the town's image has changed. It now boasts the largest economy in Kent and the town's shopping precinct is ranked in the top five retail centres in the south-east. At more than 1m sq ft of floor space, it is bigger than Bluewater.

Although investment and demand for offices is there, the supply is slowing, especially within the Town Centre, where a lack of grade A space has led to rental values plummeting.  "Maidstone is quite unusual because in the town there hasn't been any new supply, whereas out of town the story is different," says Carina Sampson at Knight Frank. "In the town centre, it is dated stock. Because rents in Kent do lag behind more established office locations like the Thames Valley, it is just not worth dropping a building and putting a new one in its place."

This is why the town's out-of-town offices have been able to achieve headline rents of £24/sq ft at Eclipse Park and Kings Hill in West Malling. Eclipse Park's 88,000 sq ft second phase is under construction and 38,000 sq ft has been preleased by Towergate Insurance. Planning applications for a third phase of 200,000 sq ft of offices to be completed in 2010 will be submitted later this summer. It could eventually grow to 18 acres of offices.

Gallagher Group, the team behind Eclipse Park, went into the development speculatively two years ago - a risk, even in a successful office market, but it has subsequently paid off. "We launched Eclipse Park as a speculative business development and a lot of people said that was very brave, or really stupid," says Pat Gallagher, chairman of Gallagher Group. "But it has worked. There are occupiers who want to be in the town, who need the space. Where else can you get a town with four major motorway junctions serving it? Even Reading has only got three."

However, David Hicken, dha Planning believes confidence in Maidstone's office sector is growing and supply will start to creep up. "If one or two people start to invest in Maidstone, it breeds confidence. You can have all the masterplans in the world but they are just coloured pictures," he says."What matters is action on the ground, where you can show other investors that the vision is now materialising. Maidstone now has that." He continued, "The Thames Gateway is growing and Ashford is growing. Maidstone shouldn't get left behind."

John Foster, economic development manager at Maidstone Borough Council, says it recognises the town's successes and is building on them. "Maidstone has intrinsically got the right qualities to be the commercial, office and shopping centre of Kent because its location is second to none." He continued: "We have recently become a growth point and the government has entered into a partnership with the council, recognising our ambitions for growth. We want to increase the residential in the town but we want to balance that with employment growth and increase Maidstone's profile as an employment area."

Gallagher is a major commercial developer in the Maidstone area and its reputation is built on its growing portfolio of investment properties and the ability to buy, develop and trade sites. Nick Yandle, Gallagher’s Chief Executive commented:“The Maidstone area has a strong potential for investment and with its commitment to more housing and supporting infrastructure, Gallagher is best placed to provide that support.” He continued: “Sponsorship of this important event is part of Gallagher’s continued commitment to supporting the local community.”

An exhibition at the museum celebrates the momentous battle which took place in the town and runs until Sunday, July 6. The exhibition is open Monday to Saturdays from 10am-5.15pm and Sundays from 11am-4pm. Admission is free. For information call 01622 602838 or visit www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk

The county was ranked fourth in the 25 top regions, and is the top English location to be recognised. As well as achieving fourth place out of all regions overall when taking all of the criteria into account, Kent was credited for coming 10th out of all 250 cities and regions in the ‘most business friendly’ category.

fDi magazine sent questionnaires to more than 1,000 European cities and regions during the summer of 2007. The county’s entry, submitted by Locate in Kent, was marked by a panel of independent judges against seven different criteria; best economic potential, most business friendly, quality of life, human resources, cost effectiveness, infrastructure and most attractive for foreign direct investment.

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