Forss Business Park Moving Forward

Submitted by Sue Saunders

3rd February 2006

Forss Business Park received planning approval on 18 November 2005. The Forss Business Park is owned by Abbey Properties Cambridgeshire Limited who are part of the Abbey Group. The area of land was the old USAF naval base comprising of a gross area of 126 acres, the planning consent granted is for a development of 76 acres of this site. The planning consent covers a mixed use from renewable energy, office facilities, industrial units/warehousing and an area for an accommodation block. The spokesman for the group has already suggested that plans are being drawn up as a master plan for the area. These plans will be drawn up in conjunction with the Council as a draft master plan for the area allowing for flexibility, sustainability and looking into the future for jobs and usages that will still go forward long after the decommissioning of Dounreay has passed.

The Abbey Group are large users of electricity in the Cambridgeshire area and are involved in the storage of cold stored potatoes along with researching and plans for the future for hydrogen power, the Group hope to be able to link together ideas from the Cambridgeshire area up to the Forss Business Park and are keen to work along with other established local businesses.

The Technology Park has already been supported by the Highlands and Island Enterprise Agency and the business park is on the same site. Abbey are therefore hopeful that we can work together with already established businesses and look forward to promoting sustainable and renewable ideas in the area.

A spokesman from Abbey has said “we have already been contacted by local contractors that are keen to tender for works coming forward from the Dounreay site and would like to be based on the Forss Business Park, as well as there being a requirement for flexible industrial storage buildings, these being the immediate apparent requirements. There is also the opportunity for a biomass scheme that would hopefully bring benefits to local farmers, with the potential to grow energy crops for the supply to the biomass scheme. Initial discussions have taken place with Neil Robertson of New Park Management to identify the opportunities for the usage of the power. This is the way the Abbey Group feel agriculture not only in Scotland, but also in the Cambridgeshire areas is likely to go in the future.

The first phase of development which is being worked up by Abbey is to include flexible storage/warehouse accommodation, office facilities, an allocated area for cement/concrete plant works. In addition to these commercial uses it is also Abbey’s intention to provide an accommodation unit tailored towards the hands on workers that will be linked to the decommissioning of Dounreay.

Should there be any contractors who are requiring office space, employment space or warehousing - Abbey are keen to work along with them to develop the Forss Business Park site further.

The Forss Business Park sits beside the Forss Technology Park owned by New Park.

Map Showing Position of Forss Business Park

Enquiries should be directed to Abbey Properties as follows:-

Nicholas Sutton
Abbey Properties Cambridgeshire Ltd
Nene Lodge
Funthams Lane
Whittlesey
Peterborough
Cambridgeshire
PE7 2PB

Tele: 01733 200905
e-mail: ns@taguk.co.uk