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Formed in 1966 by
Peter Page and Rupert Page as a family business and sister company to Sandhurst
Partition Blocks Ltd, the strategy was put in place to develop industrial units
for long term lease and form a legacy for the generations of the family to
come.
Peter Page had
started Sandhurst Partition Blocks Ltd with his brothers in 1953 to manufacture
concrete blocks for the building industry. The new business acquired seven
acres of undeveloped land in Sandhurst and constructed a new factory for the
manufacturing process. The blocks were |
sold to local merchants and developers. The daily excess of materials
were set aside for use on the further development of the seven acre plot. Over
a period of time Sandhurst Partition Blocks Ltd constructed further premises
and in conjunction with letting out plots on the land, started to expand and
establish itself.
Rupert Page joined the company in 1960, when at this
stage the block business was under stiff competition from the large national
companies and thus it was decided that manufacture of the blocks was to cease
and the company would concentrate on becoming an industrial landlord and
developer. The Sandhurst Industrial Estate was successfully developed complete
with a new acquisition in Woodley, near Reading. |
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The
first development under Hambridge Investments followed the acquisition of a
four acre disused railway yard in Newbury. This era of development saw new
modern techniques and designs with high eaves and clear span buildings. In
fact, Unit 3 on this estate was the largest clear span unit constructed in the
UK at the time, proving the intentions of the company to be innovative and
forward thinking. |
During the 1970's
thanks to experience and expertise, the directors of Hambridge Investments had
acquired and developed a further thirty one industrial units in three more
locations. At this stage Jane, sister of Rupert and daughter of Peter joined
the firm, further adding to the family values of the
Company.
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Both companies were now firmly established, with a good reputation
with all their tenants as being an amenable, approachable and flexible
landlord. All the tenants are able to contact the Directors of the Company in
order to discuss any matters and to achieve instant responses to their
queries.
During the
1980's a further twenty six modern units were successfully developed and leased
across four locations. The third generation of Victoria Page (Rupert's
Daughter) and Jeremy Sanders (Jane's Son) joined the business, further adding
to the family values and input to ensure
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Hambridge maintains a modern progressive outlook with further
expansion plans, whilst ensuring that all the existing properties and tenants
continue to prosper.
Hambridge Investments was by now the Principal Company and it was
decided that the business would purchase the entire shareholding of Sandhurst
Partition Blocks Ltd which would become the subsidiary, and remains so to the
present day.
With the
economic slow down in the early part of the 1990's the company had to
concentrate on managing low void ratios by helping some tenants through
troubled times, whilst also ensuring that their own business plans were not
affected. |
With careful
management Hambridge Investments successfully developed a new property in
Aldershot and re-developed six properties on the Sandhurst Industrial
Estate.
By the end of the 1990's Hambridge Investments had attained a
high level of occupancy and with low gearing were now ready to move forward
with their expansion plans into the Millennium. |
| The Millennium
has proved to be a successful period with the purchase of sixteen units in
Somerset, with further acquisitions in new areas currently being negotiated,
all in conjunction with modernising and redeveloping some of the older style
units, when required. |
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Now classified as
a medium size company there was the need for a new modern Head Office to
continue the expansion of the business. The decision was taken to develop
Highfield House on the Sandhurst Industrial Estate, this being a purpose built
high tech modern office premises portraying the professionalism and corporate
image of the company.
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In 2005 the Board
voted that the property in Woodley was not compatible to the industrial sector
due to its age and design. We successfully attained Planning Permission to
redevelop the plot with a residential scheme and for the first time in fifty
years Hambridge Investments Ltd sold a property. Clivedon Homes brought the
freehold with the benefit of Planning Permission and have now developed this
out.
The capital monies of the sale have been
successfully re-invested in 2007 through the purchase of an eight unit
industrial property in Alresford, Hampshire and a five unit industrial estate
in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. |
| Hambridge
Investments now has a portfolio of one hundred and twenty two industrial
premises across eleven locations. We pride ourselves on being formed on a firm
foundation with traditional values, whilst maintaining knowledge of the market
for industrial space, appreciating the need for flexibility and continuing to
grow successfully towards the long term future for the generations to
come. |
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