Pictured: (l-r) Peter Gadsby, chairman of the Ark Capital Group; Richard Ferris, IT manager at Software AG; Chris Carlisle, managing director of Cedar House Investments; Carol Holden, HR VP EMEA of Software AG; Martin Giles, managing director of Lloyds Register Rail; Paul Francis, managing director of Porterbrook Leasing and Ben Wisher, associate director at Rigby & Co

Whilst the commercial property market as a whole is still struggling to find its feet, regional developer Cedar House Investments has secured a cluster of three major rail and IT related companies to its £50m 'The Point' development on Pride Park - helping to retain and create 150 jobs and an investment value to the city of over £10million.

Lloyd's Register Rail, suppliers of safety assurance services to the rail industry, is the latest to go under construction with a 10,000ft2 office facility within phase two of the scheme on Pinnacle Way, which will be ready for occupation by March 2012.

Porterbrook Leasing, a leading player in the rail leasing market, relocated to a new 15,000 ft2 purpose-designed office headquarters on Pinnacle Way earlier this year.

And to complete the trio, Software AG, global leaders in business process excellence, now occupy a 20,000ft2 office facility at The Point, which has been developed on the site of the former Bombardier bogie and signalling works to the west of Pride Park.

Commenting on the company's decision to relocate to The Point, Martin Giles, managing director at Lloyd's Register Rail, said:

"Our relocation to The Point forms a significant part of our long term growth plans and will provide the company with a modern facility from which to develop and lever the global reach and technical capability of Lloyd's Register's rail business.

"Despite the recent news regarding the award of the Thameslink contract and the potential reduction in Bombardier's presence in the city, Derby still remains the global centre of excellence for railway engineering and research and we felt it very important that our flagship office was located within this significant cluster of railway companies."

Paul Francis, managing director of Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited, added:

"Our move to The Point has provided the company with high quality accommodation, which is ideally situated in the heart of Derby's railway community. Our new location will provide a strong platform for the company's future development."

Commenting on their relocation, Carol Holden, HR VP EMEA of Software AG said:

"The move to The Point has been a massive success - as well as providing the company with fresh new facilities, it has also provided a strong platform for us to develop in the future."

Chris Carlisle, managing director of Cedar House Investments, added:

"The Point remains Derby's leading new office destination and continues to attract high profile occupiers despite the current downturn in the market.

"Over the past ten years Cedar House Investments has developed more than 500,000 ft2 of commercial space on Pride Park, and has completed the only three significant office deals in the city this year," added Chris.

Over the past ten years Cedar House Investments has developed more than 500,000ft2 of commercial space on Pride Park, and has completed the only three significant office deals in the city this year.

With a portfolio totalling more than £75 million, Cedar House Investments is one of the Midlands' most progressive developers, with a series of high profile schemes across the East and West Midlands.

The Point remains one of the biggest and most high profile developments ever seen on Pride Park. When complete, it will see the roll-out of an additional 300,000 sq ft of commercial accommodation at a total investment of over £50m. 

Since it was launched in 2006, The Point Office Village has already attracted a diverse range of occupiers, including Ramada Encore Hotel, Handelsbanken, PX Tech and Franklin Underwood.