£1m+ development in industrial heartlands

A large 1930s nondescript vacant building, hiding a very busy industrial estate on one of Letchworth Garden City's premier business sites, is to be demolished to make way for five new modern industrial units.

At an estimated cost of over £1m, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation will demolish the large factory fronting the Ascot Industrial Estate in Icknield Way and construct separate units totalling over 20,000 sq ft. The units will vary from 2,130 sq ft to 6,450 sq ft.

Four of the units will be in excess of 3,000 sq ft and will plug a gap in the Industrial heartlands where three quarters of industrial units are less than 3,000 sq ft.

Stuart Kenny, the Heritage Foundation's Director General added: "This new development confirms the Foundation's commitment to provide the type of premises which businesses require. I am sure that the new units will let quickly, helping create new jobs in the Garden City."

The access for the new development will remain in its present position, but will be widened and improved to maximise the Icknield Way frontage.

The Ascot Industrial Estate was constructed behind the large factory in the early 1980's and comprises of 12 separate industrial units.