Pendeford Business Park

Pendeford Business Park can rightly claim to be a vibrant commercial hub. Situated on the northern outskirts of Wolverhampton and barely five minutes from the M54, the area has a long history of diverse business activity and is no stranger to innovation and enterprise.

Pendeford in history

Pendeford is one of only a few places to have retained its name as drafted in the Domesday Book. Conforming to historical expectations of early farming and forestry, the area was a marginal backwater of the Royal Forest of Cannock for hundreds of years and even Charles II’s passage through to Moseley Old Hall in 1651 did not cause much of a stir – Royalty would not return to Pendeford for nearly 300 years.  

The arrival of canals, first with James Brindley's Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal in 1772 as part of the Grand Cross plan to connect the estuaries of the Trent, Mersey, Severn and Thames, and then the addition of the Shropshire Union canal at Autherley Junction, saw Pendeford begin to develop on a more industrial scale. Not that innovation had been far away, as late 18^th century agricultural practices were being upgraded locally with experiments in dressing arable land with lime, the use of mangolds as cattle feed, and new ways of sowing and harvesting crops.

Changes and innovation

Land use was largely governed from the 14^th to the mid-19^th century by the Barnhurst Estate until it eventually was acquired by the Wolverhampton Corporation in the 1867. Use turned to the development of sewage works and the late 1920s saw further innovation with the first bio-aeration plant for treating sewage being set up here by the Wolverhampton Corporation as part of an activated sludge process with biological filters.

Further change was afoot in the 1930s as the land was drained and converted into an airfield with extensive R&D and manufacturing in evidence before, during and after World War II. This included a visit from King George and the future Queen Elizabeth in 1940 and Pendeford subsequently became the successful base for air races and shows as well as aircraft manufacturing. Most famously, Boulton Paul developed the Defiant and the Balliol aircraft here and a fleet of Dakotas were also based at the airfield for internal scheduled flights, culminating in 2000 flights in 1966. This busy period saw commercial prosperity increase as facilities were improved leading to increased rentals.

Despite this commercial success, the 1970s inevitably saw closure but the development of the M54 motorway in the early 1980s as well as further housing and commercial properties allowed Pendeford to establish a solid presence north of Wolverhampton. Deliberate planning decisions have ensured it has retained much of its pleasant rural tranquillity with the area around the business park now in close proximity to public nature reserves and walks.

Pendeford Business Park today

Filled prominently with housing developer headquarters and anchored by Birmingham Midshires in the early/mid-1990s, the 14 acre, high grade office park remains home to a wide variety of professional service providers. The access to communication channels and other local businesses which drew aircraft manufacturers to Pendeford in the 1930s are still key drivers in making the business park an attractive option today.

Whilst the office market has risen and fallen with a turbulent economy, the owners of space here have seen neither significant capital value uplift or decline, but have nevertheless enjoyed many unbroken years of steady and reliable rental income. 

The site has remained at, or close to capacity to its entire life. Some businesses have taken the opportunity to invest in their space and bought their offices, tucking them away tax efficiently in SIPPS or similar and when investors have bought here, their return has been steady and reliable.  However, buying and occupying is an even better option.

Anthony Wiggins, Director at WLT, has been pleased to have stood alongside clients and customers as Pendeford Business Park has developed, initially with Richard Bulley and, from 2007 with WLT. In collecting rent, administering service charges, and drinking a great deal of coffee with tenants, he and WLT remain close to their client properties for the benefit of all.

Current opportunities

Two tenanted offices suites on Newton Court and Nightingale Place are available for sale as owners look to liquidate to retire……  these “hands off”, income-producing commercial properties are well built and energy efficient and would, on past performance, provide a secluded, sturdy base for any mixed commercial portfolio.  The sleepiness of Pendeford has its place - even in today’s turbulent world.

For further details, contact Anthony Wiggins, enquiries@wltcommercial.co.uk or 01952 603303