| Garratt
Business Park - a totally run down estate that has regenerated
itself
Based in a relatively poor area of Wandsworth, the Garratt Business Park suffered from fly-tipping, vandalism and commercial theft, as well as all the problems associated with the worst environments, including flooding and deteriorating drainage. The Estate houses some 69 companies employing over 500 workers, and has significant manufacturing potential with companies on the site ranging from skilled carpentry, ice-sculpting, to bakery.
With help from Ian Andrews of SOLOMAN, the companies on the industrial estate were encouraged to work together to help themselves overcome the difficulties. 22 companies attended a meeting to discuss the issues (a further 18 companies could not make the date but asked to be kept informed) and a course of action was agreed.
Results
As a result of the businesses coming together they have now formed a limited company on the estate to take forward initiatives. They have also developed good relations with officers at Wandsworth Council. David Guyan, who runs one of the businesses on the estate, and a director of the new estate company said. "Trying to get everyone to part with money has been difficult and without support it would not have been possible to take the plans forward. Less theft makes life easier for businesses. It makes for smooth running and less inconvenience. We are able to run our business more efficiently and less theft and vandalism will improve the value of the buildings on the estate."
The support has also helped initiate other environmental improvements. With support from Wandsworth Council, the estate company has been able to lever in funding from Transport For London (TFL). It has received an initial grant of £30,000 to improve signage, which further progresses their aims to solve the estate environment and access problems. These improvements will make the estate more attractive to businesses and potential employees alike. It will help achieve a high occupation rate and consequent employment opportunities in this relatively poor area of the borough. It is estimated that the costs to the companies can be recovered within one year by reduced costs of waste removal alone.
A further major project supported by Wandsworth Council and SOLOMAN of more road refurbishment is taking place in March 2008.
Achievements to Date:
The Company has already achieved a number of improvements, including
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Formation of a Management Company, Garratt Business Park Management Limited together with a Management committee to deal with day to day management of the Estate.
Soloman have directed LDA funding to provide Alan Thompson’s time to assist and coordinate the Estate improvement plans by one day a week since Nov 2005. A further 90 days funding from June 2007 has been achieved to continue the improvements.
A Barrier has been installed to enable the Estate to be closed off at night time, Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. This should improve security and substantially reduce the amount of fly tipping on the Estate. The £11,000 raised by the companies was matched by grant funding from the LDA.
CCTV has been installed at the barrier.
Road refurbishment near St Martins Way and the barrier has been carried out by National Grid, after lengthy negotiation by the Estate committee.
Rosemary Road in the Swan area and part of Riverside Road was renewed in March 2007at a cost of £76K, of which £57K was raised .by regular and special contributions from the businesses and £19K from a Wandsworth Business Development grant. The road was nothing more than a dangerous rutted dirt track prior to the works.
Riverside Road, previously owned by Sapcote Developments, has been purchased at no cost to the Estate by selling off a small parcel of land included in the purchase, to an adjoining business for the same price as the road.
Pedestrian safety signs and road marking have been completed in conjunction with Wandsworth Council and SWELTRAC on the new road and other areas.
Business development grants have been made available to the Estate and Estate businesses due to the successes of working together on previous projects.
Signs comprising of individual colour coded unit numbers, individual estate signs and generic signs to Garratt Business Park were installed with TfL grant money from Wandsworth Council.
Lighting to make the Estate a safer working environment was also installed with a grant from Wandsworth Council.
A travel Website has been set up through match funding from SWELTRAC to provide travel and other useful information toe the businesses and employees.
An Estate newsletter is published regularly thanks to the generosity and efforts of Barbara and Roger Lascelles and the Ludo Press.
A travel survey in conjunction with SWELTRAC has been carried out which will lead on to an Estate Travel plan aimed at getting people on the Estate to 'DITCH THE CAR'.
An Estate travel guide has been created and distributed to show Estate people all the options to get to work without a car. |
The chairman of the new estate management company said “we are amazed how your initiative has raised the atmosphere on this estate from individual companies looking to leave, to an active group with high expectations. We are most grateful for the amazing support that you have managed to draw in from our Local Authority, it has made us all feel that what we are doing is valued by our community”
As a result of the work on this estate, a number of the companies have now asked for assistance with their individual company problems.
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