Bicester: Expanding Hardide Coatings doubles floor space

Another unit on a new industrial scheme in Bicester has been taken up by surface coating technology specialist Hardide Coatings.

Hardide Coatings will occupy 22,313 sq ft on a 15-year lease in a deal arranged by commercial property agents VSL & Partners.

It will relocate from its current site in Wedgwood Road, Bicester in a move that will see the firm doubling its floor space.

The company’s tungsten carbide-based coatings combine exceptional wear and corrosion resistance when applied to surfaces such as steel and alloys with applications in oil and gas, aerospace and engineering.

This follows on from the letting of 17,405 sq ft to Nottingham Rehab Supplies (NRS), which provides wheelchair services, equipment and clinical services to the National Health Service.

Philip Kirkham, CEO at Hardide Coatings, said: “We had been working with Tom Barton of VSL for some time to try to identify suitable industrial premises within the Bicester area. Very few appropriate buildings with the roof height we require were identified.

“We were delighted when the Longlands Road development became available as it is a new, spacious location and gives the right modern image for our growing business. The doubling of floor space means we can install additional coating equipment, giving us the extra capacity required to increase our turnover.”

Tom Barton, director at VSL & Partners, said: “To attract established operators such as NRS and Hardide Coatings shows the strength of the industrial market in Bicester and illustrates the shortage of new, high grade space around the county.

“Network @ Link 9 is at the heart of a thriving area with excellent transport links which is developing rapidly and I look forward to seeing more companies taking advantage of its first-class facilities shortly.”

Two of the seven units now remain at Network @ Link 9 - Unit Five comprising 17,656 sq ft and Unit Six comprising 30,053 sq ft.

Network @ Link 9 forms part of the 40-acre, 530,000 sq ft Link 9 commercial development. Each unit has large, dedicated service yards and car parking areas.

VSL acted for landlord Barings Real Estate Advisers. VSL and White Commercial are joint marketing agents on Network @ Link 9.