Final stage of Churchward development under way

Work on the final section of the old railway engineering yards at Churchward, Swindon will start later this year.  Thomas Homes completed the purchase of the 8 acre site last month and has planning permission for apartments, offices and a hotel – a £50m development including 245 new-build flats on the site.  Two Grade II listed engineering sheds will be converted into flexible office space. The hotel site will be sold to a hotel group. See www.thomashomes.co.uk or call 01488 649820

Rise in profits at WH Smith

WH Smith has reported an 8 per cent rise in half-year profits despite a fall in sales, as it continues to refocus on selling books rather than DVDs and CDs. Reporting its results for the six months to  February, the retailer's pre-tax profit rose to £64m from £59m for the same period a year earlier. Group-wide like-for-like sales, which exclude new store openings, were down 2%, or 3% at its High Street shops. Call WH Smith on 01793 616161

Redundancies at ODS Business Services

Around 100 staff at Swindon-based ODS Business Services have been made redundant after the firm announced that in was going into administration. The firm, based at Spectrum in West Swindon specialises in the manufacture and distribution of CDs and DVDs, and it is the manufacturing segment that has been hit with the redundancies. BDO Stoy Hayward have been appointed as joint administrators and will look for a buyer for the distribution arm of ODS. Call ODS on 01793 428777

Vygon takes space at Lakeside Business Park

Whitmarsh Lockhart has pre-let Drake House, Lakeside Business Park, South Cerney, to medical and hospital equipment company Vygon UK who have taken a new five year lease.  Drake House is a detached 17,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution facility which forms part of the latest phase of development at Lakeside Business Park. This recent letting continues with the success on the Park, following the completion of the sale of Phase 1, a 23,000 sq ft facility to Nexus in June last year. Joint agents were Alder King. Call Vygon on 01285 657051

Planning permission secured by CityMed

CityMed LLP has secured planning permission to build a state of the art medical centre in Swindon. The new specialist medical facility will be built on a one acre site located at the entrance to Kembrey Park. The building will extend to 18,000 sq ft net over two floors, with dedicated on site car parking. CityMed originally agreed terms to purchase the site in autumn 2007 from Highcross, subject to planning consent for the development. Alder King acted for CityMed in the site acquisition. Call Alder King on 01793 615477

Queen’s Awards for local companies

A Queen’s award for Innovation has been made to Checkmate UK of Bowerhill, Melksham, for the design and manufacture of pneumatic bracing bags for keeping marine cargoes, on the decks or in the holds of ships, securely in place. The certificated bags, which have rapidly growing sales, are cheaper, safer and more durable than competitive products. Contact Paul Auston on 07785 335472

SunGard Public Sector of Marshfield, Chippenham, has won the Queen’s Award for Innovation for the continuous development of public safety communication systems, improving the operational efficiency of public safety control rooms and thus helping to save peoples lives. The DS2000 communication system provides a fully portable operator position that can be deployed easily for major events, football matches and at disaster management incidents. Call Paul Eggleton on 01225 894127

MP supports brewery investment in Ye Olde Red Lion

Newbury MP Richard Benyon paid tribute to Swindon-based Arkell’s Brewery recently when he opened the brewery’s new accommodation at its pub Ye Olde Red Lion pub at Chieveley, near Newbury. The brewery has invested more than £500,000 in buying and converting the village’s oldest house next to the 200-year old pub, into five up-market bed and breakfast rooms.  Contact Arkells on 01793 823026

Development work starts soon on historic Old Town site

Work is about to start on the former Belmont Brewery site in the heart of Old Town. The Studio nightclub will close in early May to make way for redevelopment of the historic building. The landmark tower will be transformed with a wall of glass as the centrepiece to a new home for upmarket shops and restaurants in the 21,000 sq ft centre. For more information, call Vox PR on  01793 511990

Demand still strong for South West business parks

GVA Grimley’s bi-annual Business Parks Review: Spring 2008, suggests that in spite of economic uncertainties, the sub market sector of business parks is in good shape. The report details healthy levels of occupational demand across the UK,  however, take-up in the South West region in the six months to December 2007 was 22,900 sq m, was 11 per cent down on the previous six months. The majority of space was let at Gloucester Business Park and Kembrey Park in Swindon. Call GVA Grimley on 0870 900 8990

Business activity ‘improved in March’

The March data from the South West PMI Report has suggested that growth of business activity in the region picked up in March. The seasonally adjusted Business Activity Index posted 54.5, up from 52.6 in February and the highest level of the year so far. Business activity in the South West was stronger than the UK average which fell to a near five-year low.  Call the PMI on 020 8751 5626

CID Transport moves into RO24 at South Marston

Loveday and Loveday has announced the letting of Units 17 & 18 at RO24, South Marston Park to CID Transport. The space provides 3,441 sq ft of accommodation and have been let on a new five year lease, including an option to purchase. King Sturge were joint agents. For further information contact CID Transport on 07828 141279