25 year campaign sees commercial property hub, Hathersage Hall Business Centre, launched at historic rural site

Printer-friendly versionPDF version

Prestigious new rural office development launches in the Peak District.

Hathersage Hall Business Centre, the brainchild of Michael Shuttleworth, has been officially opened by the Duke of Devonshire and is now set to bring prominent knowledge based businesses from Sheffield and Manchester into the stunning Peak District National Park.

Development of Michael’s 18th century family owned farm complex was initiated in the 1980s with numerous planning applications being submitted before economic and social, heritage, environmental and planning logistics were finally met allowing listed stone-buildings to become state-of-the-art Grade A offices.

The Duke of Devonshire said: “Hathersage Hall Business Centre is a unique development for the Peak District and shows the versatile options for the redevelopment of period buildings, to both generate business for rural Derbyshire and to maintain its delicate architectural heritage.”

Located 20 minutes south of Sheffield city centre, the 12,500 sq ft complex is the first development within the confines of the Peak District to combine buildings with such provenance and new-build structures to create a top specification commercial property hub.

Michael Shuttleworth, Director of Hathersage Developments Ltd, said: “This development is one of the first of its kind for the Peak District and aims to provide business space within the National Park which is dedicated to career professional.

“Hathersage Hall Business Centre will generate throughput of commerce, establish high-earning jobs in the village and provide additional income for local businesses, all of which immediately benefit the local economy.

“The philosophy behind this project is to use the space for commerce rather than tourism, allowing for sustainable business growth in a traditional rural setting, yet preserving the beautiful architecture that gives the region its character.

“Broadly speaking, Peak District properties such as these, which are no longer fit for purpose, are inevitably turned into holiday accommodation or put to other use within the tourism industry, which provides some of the lowest paid jobs available in rural England. It has taken many years to reach fruition, but the project now acts as a showcase for what can be done with redundant historic buildings. These buildings were in agricultural use for many years but are simply not suitable for modern farming practice.”

The project, with its South Pennine location, is designed to cater for businesses including those in the legal, architectural, design, digital, finance and marketing sectors and Michael is encouraging a broad skills base to take up the 15 units on offer. Hathersage Hall Business Centre comprises of six original period farm buildings, complemented by two new-build properties, to create offices ranging from 500 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft including new built dedicated incubator units for fledgling companies.

The £2.3m development meets DDA compliance, has a BREEAM energy efficiency rating of very good and specification includes high-speed fibre-optic broadband connectivity, raised access floors, air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, Category 6A cabling throughout, meeting rooms, shared communal green spaces, open hillside views, landscaped grounds and its own fruit orchard.

Ready for occupation at the end of October, office units are available on negotiable six to ten year leases with mid-term break points.

For further information on Hathersage Hall Business Centre, visit www.hathersagebusiness.co.uk or contact Michael Shuttleworth on 01433 651098, michael@hathersagebusiness.co.uk.