New development at Oakhurst Business Park
HORSHAM District Council is pleased to announce that it is further advancing with its plans for a successful local economy with the development of a substantial new building at Oakhurst Business Park in Southwater.
A topping out ceremony took place on Friday 3 February 2012 for the new 1,200 sq metres building, which will provide additional space enabling local packaging company Neville & More to expand its business and create more local job opportunities.
The Chairman of Horsham District Council, Councillor Claire Vickers, affixed a photovoltaic panel on to the roof of the building before a presentation and tour of the site.
Horsham District Council believes that the photovoltaic system will be the largest building mounted installation in the District when it is completed.
Work on the £1.5m project was approved by Horsham District Council in April 2011 and will be finished in May 2012.
The principal contractor is local Haywards Heath based firm Sunninghill Construction Ltd.
Councillor Roger Paterson, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy, spoke about the new development.
He said: “It’s very satisfactory to announce such good news about business expansion and new investment in Horsham's local economy.
“Many congratulations to Neville & More both on the success of their business and also for creating more local jobs.
“Their remarkable growth supports recent statistics that show how Horsham District's small rural towns, such as Southwater, have been able to keep their economies expanding even in difficult times.”
Horsham District Council’s District Plan Priorities for 2011-2015 state that plans should be made for a successful local economy with high levels of employment.
Horsham District Council owns and operates the 6.5 acre Oakhurst Business Park in Southwater providing 18 business units for lease to local businesses.
The business park also provides a substantial rental income for the District Council.
The project will benefit from a major photovoltaic energy system constructed on the roof of the building.
Photovoltaic energy systems generate electricity from natural daylight.
In addition to providing a source of renewable energy the installation will generate additional income for the Council through the Government Feed in Tariff Scheme.
Neville and More, as occupier of the building, will also benefit from the use of the electricity at a rate below the current market level.
The system will cover almost 200 sq metres of the south facing roof of the new building generating an annual electricity yield of 25,609 kilowatt hours saving 13,240 kg of carbon dioxide per year.