Cooke & Arkwright
News
High tech buzz at ancient barns
10/02/05
Three innovative, high tech companies have become the first tenants to take space at Chapel Barn Business Units, a range of Grade II Listed barns in the picturesque thatched village of Merthyr Mawr near Bridgend.
Speedsafe, Broadcast Traffic Systems Ltd and Bran Ddu Limited took occupancy at the newly converted complex just before Christmas 2004. The ancient barns have recently been transformed to provide contemporary office accommodation within a carefully preserved 18th century exterior. Rory McLaggan of Merthyr Mawr Estates, owners of the development, said that they were delighted with the results.
“Chapel Barn Business Units provide the modern business user with state of the art communications in a unique setting. We are very pleased to welcome our new, high quality tenants who together form the nucleus of a good business community.”
Roger Thomas of Cooke & Arkwright, the letting agent for the units and managing agent for Merthyr Mawr Estates, said that the Chapel Barn complex attracted a great deal of interest from the outset. “It is one of the more unusual commercial lettings we have undertaken,” he said. “Chapel Barns lie in the heart of the estate, which extends to more than 3,500 acres of prime farmland and woodland. Three units remain, ranging from 900 sq ft to 1,100 sq ft and we are receiving a good level of enquiries.”
High speed connectivity and internet technology are indispensable to the new tenants. Speedsafe supplies GPS speed camera detectors and satellite navigation systems which use GPS and non-GPS technology to provide advance warning to drivers of the presence of speed cameras and accident blackspots. Proprietor Nils Kirk, who spent 10 years working as head of ecommerce at Lloyds TSB Insurance, recently set up the company after spotting the business potential. Supplying mostly to clients in the UK via its website, its turnover is projected to double in 2005.
Joining Speedsafe in Unit 1 is Broadcast Traffic Systems (BTS), which offers television broadcasting software solutions through Internet technology. It has offices in California, London and South Wales. Project director Gareth Hughes said that BTS was expanding quickly and had moved its South Wales development offices to Chapel Barns to accommodate new technical and project staff who will be employed early in 2005. “We have recently been awarded a major contract with a new TV station in the Middle East and have also set up a deal with an agency in New Zealand to sell our products throughout Asia,” he said. Craig Buckland, the company’s technical director, who has also worked in California added, “The environment here at Chapel Barns is equal to the best in the USA for software developers.”
Bran Ddu Limited is a newly formed venture company which has taken Unit 3 at the complex. It offers outsourced financial management and accounting services to SMEs in Wales. Established by chartered accountant Clare Byrne and management consultant Geoff Thomas, Bran Ddu provides managers with the facilities to keep tight control of their finances at an affordable fee. Ms Byrne said, “Chapel Barns offer the modern facilities that we require in an attractive and pleasant location. It also enjoys excellent communications to West Wales, the Valleys and South East Wales.”
Further phases of development will be undertaken in the future. For more information on existing remaining offices and the second phase, contact Cooke & Arkwright’s Cardiff office (02920 346 346).