Vacant factory bags new tenant after £1.5m revamp

A near derelict factory at Teesside Industrial Estate has secured a new occupier following a £1.5m rebuild by UK Land Estates.

The former Cordell works in Thornaby has been let to Hydrasun, which is a supplier in the field of fluid transfer, power and control services.

Constructed in the 1970s, the 12,000 sq ft plant has been vacant since 2017 when marine engineering company Cordell fell into administration, resulting in the loss of more than 240 jobs.

Hydrasun Teesside’s sales staff, service engineers, technicians and graduate trainees and apprentices will be based at the site.

UK Land Estates projects director Brandon Bailey said: “We knew the building needed a lot of work, but it became apparent that an almost total rebuild was required.

“These are the sort of projects UK Land Estates specialise in – turning ageing, unfit for purpose spaces into the modern industrial spaces required by today’s companies.

“Having stripped everything back to the steel frame, we created an environmentally sympathetic, contemporary space that gained a great deal of attention given its ideal location. It was clear that the building was perfect for Hydrasun as it looked to create a sustainable new base in the Tees Valley.”

Hydrasun, which employs about 500 people worldwide and 35 in Teesside, has agreed a 15-year lease on the building, which has an Energy Performance Certificate A-rating.

Neil Holmes, regional manager for Hydrasun, said: “These new premises enable Hydrasun to offer both existing and new customers a wider range of products and services, including new integrated solutions such as the design, engineering, manufacturing and integration of bespoke and modular mechanical/electrical systems.

“These are very exciting times in Hydrasun’s ongoing development and transition across industry. We want to continue to support our existing customers and markets, but also embrace the challenge of Net Zero across the North of England.”

Tim Carter director at Connect Property NE acted for UK Land Estates.