History

The Company was set up as a general Building Contractor and residential developer around the Warrington area.

Development of a south Warrington area known as Appleton Park commences in the mid 1950’s, with an innovative “open plan” US style layout that became a blueprint for residential new build estates in the UK. This continues for several decades and includes the acquisition of a former US Army base, also re-developed for residential.

The Company acquires land in the south Warrington area.

Ashall begins the Planning Application process to change the use category of the land bank from agricultural to residential status.

The Company worked closely with such household names as B&Q, Focus DIY, Harris Queensway and Booths Supermarkets to develop and establish retail locations in the North West and beyond.

Residential development and General Contracting continues to grow as does the increasing emphasis on Commercial development.

The Company develops its first “Enterprise Zone” scheme being a Focus DIY unit at Speke on Merseyside.  This is followed by an office development in the Tannochside Enterprise Zone in Scotland for US Corporation Tyco. The expertise in developing Enterprise Zone sites would stand the Company in good stead for future Enterprise Zone site development.

The company acquires a 140 acre newly designated Enterprise Zone (EZ) development site north east of Newcastle upon Tyne with a joint venture partner.

The recently acquired EZ site is named “Cobalt” and work commences on the first 3 office buildings totalling a net 90,000 sq ft. 

A speculative Call Centre is developed and subsequently let to Orange – who go on to take a further Call Centre on the adjacent plot.

Completion of a 98,000 sq ft building at Cobalt and letting to Procter and Gamble (P&G) who located one of their European shared services centre there.  P&G subsequently agreed to lease a second 56,000 sq ft office building on an adjacent plot at Cobalt.

Orange take occupation of a second 80,000 sq ft building which it operates as a customer care centre.

Planning approval received for construction of 9 office units at Abbots Park development in Preston Brook, Cheshire.

Construction of the Newcastle Village Leisure hotel, which comprises 15 conference rooms, 124 bedrooms and a leisure centre and pool, is completed.

A site adjacent to Cobalt is purchased from Atmel which provides the company with the opportunity to expand Cobalt and become the UK's leading office park with a capacity of over 2m square feet.

The first five office buildings completed at the Abbots Park development in Preston Brook.

The first office building lettings on Abbots Park to Dimension Data, David McLean Homes Ltd, RMC (UK) Ltd and AD Aerospace Ltd.

EDS take occupation of 50,000 sq ft of offices in Cobalt 2.  They subsequently exercise their option to lease the remaining 50,000 sq ft in the building.

GE Money lease a 30,000 sq ft building at Cobalt.

Completion of a 15,000 sq ft NHS treatment centre let to Capio Healthcare Ltd.

Completion of a new purpose built 23,000 sq ft office building pre-let to Alfred McAlpine Infrastructure Ltd.

Abbots Park office building let to Alfred McAlpine Business Information Systems Ltd.

The second phase of the Abbots Park development completed.  Buildings let to RMG and Newbreed Freight Ltd.

A 55 acre site including the Atmel offices and a water fabrication plant adjacent to Cobalt is acquired.

North Tyneside Council decide to relocate its Headquarters to Cobalt taking a lease on a 100,000 sq ft building and commissioning a 20,000 sq ft extension.

A further 50,000 sq ft of recently completed office space is let to Northumbria NHS.

Acquisition of the former Goodyear / Dunlop manufacturing plant and 45 acre site at Washington, Tyne & Wear. The site is named Radial 64.

 GE Money take possession of a newly completed purpose built 100,000 sq ft facility at Cobalt and increase their local workforce to over 800 people.

Following an extensive refurbishment of the Atmel offices, including the provision of a new reception area and ground floor, the Cobalt Business Exchange serviced office is launched.

Completion of a 350,000 sq ft manufacturing facility for BAE Systems at Radial 64.

Agreements are signed with Liverpool Council, Starwood Hotels, an investor syndicate and Balfour Beatty to refurbish the Grade II* listed Royal Insurance building in Liverpool and convert it into a 116 room Aloft Hotel and a standalone restaurant.

Agreements are signed with Middlesbrough Council, Intercontinental Hotels Group, an investor syndicate and Bowmer & Kirkland to refurbish Cook and Endeavour House in Middlesbrough and convert it into a 138 room Holiday Inn Express Hotel.

The Aloft Liverpool Hotel and NYL restaurant opens for business in October.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel, Centre Square, Middlesbrough opens for business in August.

The project to refurbish and convert the Royal Insurance Building into the Aloft Liverpool Hotel is awarded the NCE Building Construction Industry (BCI) award for Building Project of the Year.

Agreements are signed with Middlesbrough Council, Intercontinental Hotels Group, the investor syndicate and Bowmer & Kirkland to create a 21 room extension to the Holiday Inn Express and additional restaurant space.

Ashalls sign an agreement with Middlesbrough Council aimed at creating high quality Grade A office space in a new central business district in the heart of the town. The development is branded Centre Square.

The Holiday Inn Express Middlesbrough extension opens for business in January.

Planning permission is granted for the Centre Square Grade A office development.

Le Bistrot Pierre sign an agreement to lease 4,500 sq ft of ground floor space adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express Middlesbrough hotel.

Work commences on the demolition of the Former Police Station in Barrow.

The construction of the new Holiday Inn Express hotel is scheduled to be completed in November 2019.

Ashalls sign an agreement with Middlesbrough Council to lease 2 buildings on Centre Square.

Building 1 is to become the new Civic Centre while Building 2 is to be sublet to third parties.

At the same time Ashalls signed an agreement with M&G to forward fund this phase of development.

Ashalls achieve practical completion of 2 Centre Square in June and 1 Centre Square in September - both on time and on budget.

Ashalls acquire Melrose House in December 2019 with the aim of demolishing the existing building and developing a further phase of the Centre Square development.

Ashalls exercises its option to acquire additional land in Centre Square in April 2020.

Construction of the hotel was completed on schedule in November 2019.  The hotel opened for business on 2nd December 2019.

During October 2020 approximately 80% of the offices in 1 and 2 Centre Square totalling over 70,000 sq ft were let to GB Bank, XPS, Causeway and First Source.  The First Source letting of 40,000 sq ft was the largest office letting in Middlesbrough for 25 years.

Detailed planning approval granted for 6 Centre Square, a 40,000 sq ft NIA Grade A office building which will be located on the former Melrose House site.

Outline planning approval granted for building 3, 4 and 5 Centre Square which between them will provide over 100,000 sq ft of Grade A office space.

Ashalls secure planning approval for its plan to refurbish the former Post Office and Sorting Office in Blackpool and convert these buildings into a 148 room Hotel Indigo and Indigo Suites development.

Ashalls sign agreements to sell the Melrose House site and develop a 40,000 sq ft Grade A office building with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) - 6 Centre Square.

At the same time Axa signs an agreement for lease for 24,000 sq ft in 6 Centre Square with Ashalls and the TVCA.

Centre Square Six. 40,000 Sq Ft of Grade A office space completed and handed over on time.

Tees Valley Combined Authority sign lease with AXA Insurance.