Redrow, the leading UK housebuilder headquartered in north Wales, has extended its original agreement with the Plymouth Estate at Plasdŵr, unlocking the development of homes, schools and the town centre and securing thousands of further jobs over the next 20 years.This latest deal relates to by far the largest component part (426 gross acres) of the capital’s flagship new community, with a third, smaller section to follow. Cooke & Arkwright acted for the landowner in the deal.

Parmer Cardiff Waterside has appointed Cooke & Arkwright as professional property agent advising on its premier bay-side portfolio of land and office schemes in the heart of Cardiff Bay, alongside joint agent Knight Frank. The extensive estate is currently home to over 25 companies and offers class-leading workspace extending to more than 400,000 sq. ft., with easy access to the city centre and excellent wider transport links.

Cooke & Arkwright continues to work harder than ever in the commercial property market during the ongoing challenges. We are still growing with a full commitment to Wales, and recently added to our team by recruiting three new surveyors. Here we get to know our second recruit, Ella Jefferies, who joined the Retail & Leisure team in October. Ella is from Cardiff and has a First Class Honours degree in Real Estate from the University of the West of England. She is working towards her RICS accreditation.

A new office letting in one of Cardiff’s premier leisure quarters has been completed by Cooke & Arkwright’s Business Space team. The fourth floor at 10/11 Mill Lane has been leased to Maximus UK Services Ltd, a global supplier of end-to-end health and employment services.

Cooke & Arkwright has completed the letting of a 4,376 sq. ft. unit in Aberaman Industrial Estate to Toolstation, one of Britain’s fastest growing building suppliers to the trade, home improvers and self-builders. Toolstation is currently fitting out the unit, where it has taken a 10 year lease, with opening planned for 8th February 2021.

A new Burger King drive-thru has opened at Cross Hands Retail Park near Carmarthen. The purpose-built drive-thru is Swansea franchise operator Unionburger’s latest restaurant and occupies a 2,750 sq ft plot at the entrance to the Park. Cooke & Arkwright acquired the site on behalf of Unionburger in a deal negotiated with Fletcher Morgan acting for the landlord.

Bradleys Coffee, a local independent artisan coffee house is set to open its sixth outlet in south Wales at St Elli Shopping Centre in Llanelli. The lease was completed on Christmas Eve 2020, with Ben Davies of Cooke & Arkwright’s Retail & Leisure agency and Jackson Criss acting for the landlord, NewRiver.

Cooke & Arkwright’s Business Rates team is urging caution following recent media reports that UK businesses could save a combined £481m in business rates following an interim agreement.

The media coverage stated that the interim agreement was for a quarter off the business rate bills for offices.

The Welsh Government has published a summary following its consultation on the draft Non-Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. The consultation involved proposed changes to regulations designed to reduce the abuse of Empty Property Rate Relief, which the WG said is the most reported method of non-domestic rate avoidance.