Several Island businesses have begun their move into new premises on the Branstone Farm integrated regeneration development site, some 6 months after they were meant to move in.
Branstone Farm offers environmentally sustainable, fit-for-purpose business units boasting air-source heat pumps, high specification energy efficiency, super-fast full-fibre broadband, and stunning ecological surroundings; features that help new tenants feel enabled by the new opportunities for their businesses to flourish. It is an example of bringing the principles of the island’s UNESCO Biosphere status to life.
Goddards Brewery, the oldest brewery on the Isle of Wight and one of the first independent craft beer producers in the UK, is growing and creating 15 to 20 jobs for local people that will add to the Island economy as they plan their move to Branstone Farm for Easter. The emphasis will also be on supporting other local businesses in their restaurant and shop.
Matt Jeffery, CEO of creative agency Brightbulb Design, says:
“Our business is expanding, and we need suitable high-quality office space to meet our needs and the growing team.
“This move is not just about ‘square footage’ but is about providing an encouraging environment to ensure we meet our values of positive wellbeing at work for the team.”
Christopher Scott, a planning and land development consultant on the Island who is also making the choice to move his business to Branstone Farm, says:
“For us, moving to Branstone is about ‘walking the talk’. I’ve been privileged to work on many innovative schemes involving ecological, bio-diverse, and sustainable living and working across the Island.
Article continues below this advertisement “Moving to Branstone is about ‘right place, right time, right reason’ and being true to our purpose – it means our clients can see ‘we do what we say’.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, cabinet member for Levelling Up, Regeneration, Business Development and Tourism, said:
“Another milestone had been reached in this project, with companies moving in and taking their businesses to their next level.
“Creating a community here at Branstone will enable island businesses to go from strength to strength.”
To Councillor Julie Jones-Evans (Cabinet Member for Levelling Up) First priority should be and must be NEWPORT Town Centre. Not building and promoting units in the rural areas. Huge empty properties in Newport : Poundstretcher, Brighthouse, Carphone, Topshop, and next Island Beds at the Top of the Town closing. NO Post Office in a capital town!
Other than the Brewery the other businesses could work from buildings in the town centre if they were desirable enough to attract businesses and clients to the area.
And so say all of us.
I agree that the Council should be doing more, a lot more, to attract businesses to the empty shops in Newport, but are those companies moving into Branstone Park ‘High Street’ businesses i.e. shops?
I only know one, apart from the brewery, and that’s a design company so not really suitable for a shop in a High Street.
Who are the other businesses moving to Branstone Park that would be more suitable in the High Street? I don’t know who else is moving there.
Put all the business out to Branstone then wait and watch there will be conversions into flats etc ,,, council tax grabbers our council
It’s just a shame that the farm couldn’t have been used to educate young people on environmental impacts and BETTER ways to farm. How much pollution did it take to build this park? All that machinery and fuel for what exactly? We missed an opportunity for our young and it was squandered for the sake of buisness …