Published: Sunday, 13th July, 2008 10:00
Ascot Business Park takes shape
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A STAGGERING 130,000 tonnes of concrete has been crushed and re-used in the building of Ascot Business Park.
Nestled in Lyndhurst Road, behind Ascot Train Station, builders are at work creating the industrial and office base park.
Orginally the site of a factory producing an animal by-product, the processing plant came under a lot of criticism from neighbours who complained about the foul smells it created.
Now the site has been cleared, the concrete crushed and recycled along with steel from the factory building to form the foundations and layers for the industrial and office units.
“Very little has actually left the site and has now been recycled,” said Bill Raspin, from Raspin Properties who own and are overseeing the work with Salmon Harvester Properties.
He added: “Demolition and remediation was a big task. There was so much concrete that once it had all been crushed the site looked like the Alps. We are pleased to have been able to use all the old concrete on site to stabilise the ground. Most of the old buildings have been recycled in one way or another.”
Planning for the site took a year to secure and was finally granted in November 2007.
There were no objections from residents or councillors who, Bill said, were keen to see the land put to use.
He added: “The residents have been very supportive, so much so that there wasn’t a single objection to the application. It has been a pleasure to work with them to design a scheme that we hope will work for all.”
Ascot Business Park will consist of three main elements.
Nine industrial and warehouse units will cover a 39,681 square foot area. Four main blocks will comprise the industrial side, each with their own parking space outside.
No higher than three storeys, they are all hidden by trees and so will not be seen by neighbours or children and staff at nearby South Ascot School.
The second area is for studio and workshop space suited to smaller and more local businesses. Interest has already been shown, with units being bought by dressmakers and photocopier companies.
The final element is two office blocks, offering a total of nine units, with special heating and air conditioning using outside air to heat and ventilate them.
Bill admitted that there has been a lot of interest Berkshire-wide for the site as companies look to locate to Ascot.
He said: “Office construction in the Royal Borough tends to be Windsor and Maidenhead and there are people in Ascot who have businesses or work there but have to go to Windsor or Maidenhead.”
As part of the redevelopment of the site, Bill has made a contribution to community life in South Ascot and along Lyndhurst Road.
Rubbish has been cleared and a new fence and grass verge installed, making the walk to the train station more enjoyable.
The derelict Blue Club building, which has been a target for vandals, has been demolished and there are plans to increase lighting on the footpath towards the station.
Steel pillars have already been built as the site starts to take shape. It’s hoped that the industrial units will be finished by November and the offices ready to open in February.
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