Quote: Inflatable_Armadillo "Firstly, there isn't as much as you think, yes, there is some but as a percentage of the overall I reckon it would struggle to be more than 5% of the total. Also, some of the empty units are a victim of the boom when building spec units (sorry, that means building them to specification without an end user client signed up) were built and often were taken on short leases or left empty. However, as these units are not built with a specific end user in mind companies that need these type of units either move on or, in some cases went out of business in the recession. Unless the developer wants to knock them down and offer the site again for a new build they don't get taken... and it is cheaper for the developer to leave them empty!!! There is not much empty space on the M1 corridor either, J41 is full and someone even took Slazengers unit and refurbed it... J41 is a great location though, as J31 is and as J30 Newmarket is, and that is attractive to long term end-users!
The inspector determined in 2009 that Wakefield would need this extra space to for both economic growth, regeneration and job creation. Remember, this is to take the Wakefield district to 2022 and Yorkcourt would not expect full occupancy for at best 5 years and more likley 7 to 10 years, as the plan.
As such, it is now a legal requirement for Wakefield to allocate 95ha (at least, they are now saying 108ha but even I think that is too much) for B8 development on the M62 Corridor. Ok, some people are arguing tha the M62 corridor should maybe also mean the A1 corridor, but that is real greenfield land out that way.
Also, this is not done in isolation, the Aire Valley is also required to contribute to the Leeds City Regional targets for B8, but the problem with the Aire Valley is that, well... it is a crap location compared to the M62 between Wakefield/Castleford & Leeds and the M1 south of J42. Hence the reason they have made it and EZ (Employment Zone), meaning the government give companies tax breaks and incentives to move there... the problem is, is that this sort of offer attracts short term boundary hopping companies who bugger off somewhere else when the incentives dry up!
The reason Yorkcourt and WMDC want Newmarket is that long term end-users want Newmarket... it is a very good location and they want an Asda, like at J31 or a Coca-Cola, like at J41 who will stay for decades at that location.
Long answer, but you know me!'"
Long answer maybe....great answer YES.
I know there is a lot of bickering about the details but I appreciate your clarifications on the details IA. This is by no means my area of expertise but I am interested because WTW are interested and you make it understandable without dumbing it down.
Thank you for that. Keep 'em coming.