Solent: Daedalus offers space for aerospace and marine businesses

A huge area of prime commercial space across two business parks at one of the south’s largest employment zones has gone on the market as the site opens its doors to businesses. Fareham Borough Council, which owns the site in Fareham, has appointed commercial property specialist Lambert Smith Hampton as sole sale and letting agent for the site.

The two business parks – Faraday and Swordfish – are located within the Solent Enterprise Zone, which brings significant benefits to occupiers including business rates relief, streamlined planning processes and a significant investment in transport infrastructure on-site and for the surrounding road networks.

The business parks offer a mix of existing hangars and serviced plots that are available on a virtual freehold or leasehold basis. Space at Faraday Business Park is on the market first, with Swordfish set to follow in a second phase.

The site also offers opportunities for two “gateway” businesses at the entrance to the site, ideally suited for retail occupiers. 

Several vacant plots are located airside at the former Daedalus airfield, now known as Solent Airport, providing attractive opportunities to aviation and aerospace businesses.

Robin Dickens, director of industrial and logistics agency at Lambert Smith Hampton’s South Coast offices, said: “We are expecting significant interest in this site because of its prime location, rich aviation history and accessibility.

“The south is well-established as a key region in aerospace and marine and we are proud to be involved in a site that will further enhance that reputation and will be a major new hub for businesses in these sectors.”

HMS Daedalus, four miles west of Portsmouth, was established as a naval air base in 1917 and remained in use by the Royal Navy until the late 1990s.

It is currently home to the airport, used by private owners and air clubs, several businesses and Fareham Innovation Centre, which provides new companies with offices and workshop space.

The site lies approximately 70 miles and 90 minutes from London, and within easy reach of the South's principal motorways: M27, M3 and A3(M). Fareham train station lies four miles from the site.

Workers on site will benefit from an environment with a location close to the waterfront, proximity to the area's major road connections and, by 2018, public open space that includes picnic areas and walkways.

Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: “Solent Airport at Daedalus is a key site for the south and this is an exciting opportunity to build on the region’s success in the aviation, aerospace and marine advanced engineering sectors.

“The Solent area is already home to seven of the top 10 aerospace companies which benefit from excellent transport links and proximity to London, and the ability to attract skilled employees, without the cost of London-weighted salaries.

“We are very excited to be moving on with the new business parks and look forward to seeing them grow and prosper as a natural home for aviation and marine businesses.”