Tuesday 13 Jul 2010
NETWORK RAIL STEPS UP TO SUPPORT BRITISH BUSINESS
- Region & Route:
- National
Network Rail today announces the first step in a new approach to engage with businesses looking for commercial space, development opportunities or retail space at Britain’s largest stations. The company will re-brand Spacia, its 7,000 unit strong commercial lettings portfolio to Network Rail Property and is offering flexible leases and rates to support small and medium sized enterprise throughout Great Britain.
For the first time, businesses will also be able to find out what opportunities are available and access advice and support from Network Rail by going to a dedicated website and helpline. Network Rail is one of the country’s biggest land owners, and this means businesses can now access information on everything from the leasing of railway arches and retail units at some of the country’s largest stations, to joint-development opportunities nationwide.
Maximising the value of Network Rail property portfolio also allows the company to re-invest in the railway, bringing better services for passengers.
Director of property David Biggs commented: “We already work with thousands of companies across Britain – from major retailers and some of Britain’s biggest property developers, to the leisure industry and a whole range of small to medium business enterprises. Our stations are some of the busiest retail destinations in the country, and we have prime sites for development across our national network as well as commercial space to rent in the heart of our biggest towns and cities.
"By innovating and creating tailor-made solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes, you can now come to Network Rail for everything from simple leasehold, or a multi-million pound joint-venture partnership. In creating a new easy to use website it will make it easier and more efficient for anyone wanting to do business with Network Rail in the future.”
More information on lettings, retail or development opportunities with Network Rail can be found at www.networkrail.co.uk/property, or by phoning 0800 830 840.
Notes to editors
Network Rail:
Is the 'not for dividend' owner and operator of Britain's railway infrastructure, which includes the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations - the largest of which we also manage We aim to provide a safe, reliable and efficient rail infrastructure for freight and passenger trains to use Our website: www.networkrail.co.uk
Will generate over £1bn from commercial activities in the next five years. This would be enough to transform Birmingham New Street or King’s Cross stations, or put in place 5,000km of new railway.
Is the country’s largest provider of space to small and medium sized business enterprises, with over 7,000 properties nationwide with a total 18million sq ft. Individual units range from 100 sq ft to 100,000 sq ft with uses ranging from office, retail and leisure to light industrial and storage.
Has over 480,000 sq ft of retail space at 18 of the largest stations across the country – equivalent in size to some of the largest shopping centres in the UK – showcasing many leading high street brands.
Works in partnership on existing development projects, including multi-million pound commercial schemes above our stations at London Bridge (Shard) and Cannon Street and our first multi-site joint venture: Solum Regeneration
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - National
020 3356 8700
mediarelations@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
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Visit our online newsroom: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk