Transport company expands with new Bridgend depot

A multi-service transport company has tripled its capacity with a long term lease of a new depot in Bridgend.

Clarke Transport has relocated from Kenfig Industrial Estate to a 37,000 sq ft warehouse on a site of two acres at Central Park in Bridgend Industrial Estate to accommodate growing customer demand.

The transport company, which specialises in transporting non-temperature controlled chemicals, has signed a 15 year lease with landlords Robert Hitchins Ltd on the redeveloped site which is marketed by Knight Frank and Herbert R Thomas (HRT Commercial). It has also created six extra jobs with further recruitment planned.

The depot, which includes an office, warehouse and large yard for its fleet of vehicles was selected due to its close proximity to the M4 with most of the company’s clients being based between Swansea and Swindon.
The transport company appointed commercial agent HRT to source a new premises to accommodate its growing workforce as a result of the increase in customer demand.

Alun Jones, national projects manager at Clarke Transport, said: “Since opening our Welsh depot in 1999, we have experienced significant growth which has led to the need for additional space for our vehicles and staff. Central Park provided the perfect location, as many of our clients are based along the M4 corridor. We are a national company but have invested heavily in Wales with our relocation costing over £120,000, which was all self-funded. The 15 year lease of the property demonstrates our commitment to Wales and to Bridgend in particular.

“As a family run business, loyalty is extremely important to us and we are pleased to say that we have maintained 100 per cent employee retention during the relocation. We are delighted with the advice we received from John Jones at HRT Commercial, who understood what we were looking for and found us the ideal new premises.

“It’s an exciting time for the company, and not just in Wales, as we are also expanding across other areas in the UK.”

John Jones of HRT Commercial said: “Through conversations with Clarke Transport and the Landlord Robert Hitchins Limited, we were able to negotiate a deal that provided Clarke Transport with everything they required with additional space to continue to grow in the future.  It was challenging to find a facility in the Bridgend area that provided both the warehouse and yard space required and a lot of credit has to be given to both landlord and tenant for their foresight in facilitating the deal.”

Mark Durand of Robert Hitchins Limited commented: “The Clarke’s occupation represents the completion of the crucial first phase of the regeneration of the Former Kimball Electronics building and we are looking to modernise and bring back into use further parts of the building which is suitable for a range of business uses.”