Whitecliff Properties - Offices Development - M25, Crossways Business Park
Date: 18 Jan 2001
Crossways Business Park - the M25's largest mixed-use business park and home to many of the world's leading companies and their brands - expanded its on-site
amenities, setting a new benchmark for commercial developments along London's orbital motorway. Recent transactions on Charles Park, its newest development
zone, will shortly bring Crossways' third hotel, a sixth eating establishment and its first day nursery.
The three new occupiers, Jigsaw Day Nurseries, Compass Roadside and Burger King, will create over 100 new job and training opportunities and add substantially to
Crossways' already comprehensive on-site facilities.
Whitecliff Properties' development director, David Dye, said: "In one sense, Crossways is the only true M25 business park with its very own junction
[1 a]. Now with three leading hotel operators, two with conference facilities, five/six restaurants,
an ASDA supermarket at our gates and Bluewater three minutes down the road, Crossways has become one of the leading office location on the M25."
Jigsaw Day Nurseries:
Purpose-built day nursery operator, Jigsaw, will open their 25th UK unit on Charles Park, one of 10 it aims to build this year. Sector-leading Jigsaw intend to
acquire a highly visible, 0.5-acre [0.2-ha] site alongside Crossways Boulevard, the main route through Crossways connecting Greehhithe/Bluewater with M25. Jigsaw will build a state-of-the art day nursery for over 100 children between the ages of 12
months and 5 years: additionally, a separate antenatal classes room will be provided.
Jigsaw chief executive Tom Shea said: "Crossways has always been on our list as a major employment generator in the Kent Thames-side region. Crossways now has critical mass, with over 4,500 people now working there - many in high-tech or specialist jobs new to the Kent Thames-side region. There has been a
paradigm shift in the park's occupiers over the past few years. Crossways has matured as an M25
business location and so attracted substantial new UK and European headquarters. At the same time, we have monitored an increasing affluence in the parent
population in Kent Thames-side. We will be delighted to open later in the year."
Whitecliff's David Dye added: "We sought the UK's leading purpose-built day nursery operator: and we got them. The quality of the Jigsaw brand is obvious. Each
aspect of the unit has been so carefully considered. The Jigsaw learning system is world class. Children as young as five come out reading and writing - some
speaking French or Japanese. All food is prepared fresh, on the premises. The staff are rigorously trained, highly focussed and have a strong espirit du corps. Even the plants in the play area garden are edible!"
Compass Roadside:
Travelodge, Compass1s leading budget hotel brand, will build a 65-bed unit on Charles Park that will be complemented by a Burger King fast food outlet on the
same site. Compass UK Roadside divisions property director, Kevin Jackson said today, "This will represent a significant investment in the Kent
Thames-side region, creating a number of full- and part-time job opportunities with training
programmes.
Our two new units will be on the main route/gateway into Bluewater and enjoy high visibility. Our customers expect us to be represented in all the major
growth regions and Crossways' direct access to the M25 make it one of the best located business parks on London's orbital motorway."
David Dye continued: "Crossways' on-site facilities take yet another step upwards.
Travelodge with Burger King join Hilton and Campanile as heavily-branded food and bed providers, serving Crossways' fast-growing business occupiers like
Vodafone, Woolwich, Honeywell, Regus, ASDA and international pharmaceutical giant Colorcon."
Agents Colliers Conrad Ritblat and Edwin Hill acted for Whitecliff Properties. Jigsaw and Granada Compass were represented in-house.
Where do I go now?: » View the latest news items » View the news archive » Subscribe to Weekly Construction Newsletter » Submit news

