Southwell Business Park

The entrance of the business park, as seen in 2014.

Southwell Business Park is a business park on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is housed at the former Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment, which closed in 1995 and became the Southwell Business Park in 1997.

History

The establishment as it remains today, now the Southwell Business Park.

The Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment, built at the beginning of the Cold War, was closed in 1995 when the Royal Navy closed their Portland base.[1][2] The research site had employed over 2,000 people. Afterwards, the buildings remained empty for two years, until Roy Haywood and Ray Bulpit, whose business was the acquisition and development of former military sites, purchased the site in 1997.[3]

The establishment can be clearly seen on the skyline from various parts of Portland, particularly from the South West Coast Path which runs around the edge of the establishment.

The first tenants of Southwell Business Park arrived that year, with a wide array of businesses remaining at the park to date, providing employment for almost 500 people and being home to over 100 businesses.[4] It is estimated that the total turnover generated at the park from 1997 to 2008 is over £200 million.[3]

In 2005, the site's unused 1970s wing was developed into the Portland Spa and an 80-bedroom hotel, known as the Venue Hotel. Completed in 2008, the spa included a gym, a fitness studio and an indoor swimming pool.[3] The Orchid Restaurant was also converted from the former AUWE canteen. It was later renamed to the Cliff Panoramic Restaurant and Bar.[3] In 2009, the park went into administration after the UK recession made it difficult to repay borrowed money used to create the spa and hotel.[5] In 2010, the site was sold to Compass Point Estates.[6]

In 2013, the tenants of the spa took over the hotel and restaurant.[7] Opening in September 2016, the park is home to the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy's new £14 million campus.[8] In 2014, the Ocean Spa and Hotel closed,[9] however by 2015 the hotel had reopened with new management, and was named Ocean Hotel and Bar. The hotel is currently known as the Maritime Hotel.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Legg, Rodney (1999). Portland Encyclopaedia. Dorset Publishing Company. p. 5. ISBN 978-0948699566.
  2. ↑ "The Jurassic Coast - Underwater Research". jurassicagent.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "A Portland Success Story | Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine". Dorset Life. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  4. ↑ "Southwell Business Park". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  5. ↑ "UK | England | Business park 'recession victim'". BBC News. 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  6. ↑ McDonald, Ian (2010-03-31). "Fresh start for new team at Southwell Business Park (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  7. ↑ Davis, Joanna (2013-02-12). "Portland spa takes over hotel (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
  8. ↑ "Portland Academy plans for Southwell now on display (From Dorset Echo)". Dorsetecho.co.uk. 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  9. ↑ http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/11470682.Jobs_at_risk_as_Ocean_Hotel_and_Spa_on_Portland_to_close/
  10. ↑ http://www.maritimehotel.club/

Coordinates: 50°32′37″N 2°27′14″W / 50.54356°N 2.45381°W / 50.54356; -2.45381

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