Bateman Groundworks invests in new offices ready for Norwich NDR housing boom
April 27, 2017
A leading East Anglian construction company is future-proofing its expansion and securing a prime position for new business opportunities by opening offices closer to Norwich.
Bateman Groundworks’ new base is located just a mile from the new £178m Northern Distributor Road (NDR) where an estimated 10,000 new homes will be built from the end of this year.
The company, which celebrates its 20th anniversary later this year, works with major blue chip housebuilders and is targeting key residential developments along the 12.5-mile road.
It has invested £1million in 7200 sq ft of office space in the Octagon Business Park, Little Plumstead, as it forecasts growth of 25% this year.
The 15 office-based staff – supporting more than 140 employees on 12 sites across East Anglia – moved in as the company started two new contracts worth more than £5 million.
Managing Director Richard Bateman said much of its work was central to Norwich and the surrounding areas. Moving closer to the city had always been part of the company’s strategy, to be closer to major business opportunities.
““There are real advantages to being more centrally placed in our work area. There are plans for an estimated 10,000 new homes to be built to the North of Norwich which will be accessed more easily once construction of the NDR is completed.
“Building has already started at Sprowston, with more once the road opens at the end of this year. We needed to be positioned to be able to access this work and take advantage of the growing workload in and around Norwich areas.”
“The opportunity to move came up sooner than expected and the whole process was accelerated because of the many new business opportunities. With an increase of up to 10% in home building expected up to 2021 and the NDR – to run from the A47 at Postwick to the A1067 Fakenham Road – which was a priority target.”
The new offices allow for expansion of head office staff, Mr Bateman said.
“We struggle to recruit skilled staff. The move will hopefully make the company more attractive to potential new staff and being closer to Norwich widens the pool of construction-orientated staff.”
The sleek and modern offices were fitted out by Norwich Company, Bluespace.
The company, set up in Great Yarmouth in 1997, marks its 20th anniversary in September with large housebuilder clients; including Bovis Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes, as well as regional developers including; Hopkins Homes and Cripps Developments.