Leicestershire metal fabricating company, County Fabrications, is moving to Highcross' Whittle Estate in Whetstone following expansion.

County Fabrications has taken 12,500 sq ft of manufacturing space on a ten-year lease. The company, which is currently based in Market Harborough, will be locating all its fabrication and sheet metal operations to two adjacent units at the Whittle Estate.

County Fabrications director, Ian Ross, said the lifting equipment installed in the units was a major benefit:  "As well as providing the additional space we required, the units were already equipped with cranes, which are ideal for our business operations."

The 54-acre Whittle Estate includes 668,000 sq ft of industrial and office space and was acquired by Highcross in 2008. Located five miles from central Leicester, the estate has an on-site estate manager, cafe, meeting room facilities and 24-hour manned security. 

Highcross asset manager, Joe Curlett said: "The strong industrial heritage of the Whittle Estate means that we are able to meet specialised requirements, such as this lifting equipment, which would otherwise require major capital expenditure. Many of our units, including the ones taken by County Fabrications, also have the benefit of unusually high eaves - in this case up to 15 metres."   

Malcolm Grayson of letting agents, Andrew & Ashwell added: "We are pleased to secure this substantial letting for the Whittle Estate where enquiries have been strong over recent months. We expect other transactions to complete imminently following improvements undertaken to the site by Highcross."

Joint letting agents with Andrew and Ashwell are Innes England.