Ashalls sign an agreement with Middlesbrough Council to lease 2 buildings on Centre Square.

Building 1 is to become the new Civic Centre while Building 2 is to be sublet to third parties.

At the same time Ashalls signed an agreement with M&G to forward fund this phase of development.

Work commences on the demolition of the Former Police Station in Barrow.

The construction of the new Holiday Inn Express hotel is scheduled to be completed in November 2019.

Planning permission is granted for the Centre Square Grade A office development.

Le Bistrot Pierre sign an agreement to lease 4,500 sq ft of ground floor space adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express Middlesbrough hotel.

The Holiday Inn Express Middlesbrough extension opens for business in January.

Ashalls sign an agreement with Middlesbrough Council aimed at creating high quality Grade A office space in a new central business district in the heart of the town. The development is branded Centre Square.

Agreements are signed with Middlesbrough Council, Intercontinental Hotels Group, the investor syndicate and Bowmer & Kirkland to create a 21 room extension to the Holiday Inn Express and additional restaurant space.

The project to refurbish and convert the Royal Insurance Building into the Aloft Liverpool Hotel is awarded the NCE Building Construction Industry (BCI) award for Building Project of the Year.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel, Centre Square, Middlesbrough opens for business in August.

The Aloft Liverpool Hotel and NYL restaurant opens for business in October.

Agreements are signed with Middlesbrough Council, Intercontinental Hotels Group, an investor syndicate and Bowmer & Kirkland to refurbish Cook and Endeavour House in Middlesbrough and convert it into a 138 room Holiday Inn Express Hotel.

Agreements are signed with Liverpool Council, Starwood Hotels, an investor syndicate and Balfour Beatty to refurbish the Grade II* listed Royal Insurance building in Liverpool and convert it into a 116 room Aloft Hotel and a standalone restaurant.

Completion of a 350,000 sq ft manufacturing facility for BAE Systems at Radial 64.

Following an extensive refurbishment of the Atmel offices, including the provision of a new reception area and ground floor, the Cobalt Business Exchange serviced office is launched.

 GE Money take possession of a newly completed purpose built 100,000 sq ft facility at Cobalt and increase their local workforce to over 800 people.

Acquisition of the former Goodyear / Dunlop manufacturing plant and 45 acre site at Washington, Tyne & Wear. The site is named Radial 64.

North Tyneside Council decide to relocate its Headquarters to Cobalt taking a lease on a 100,000 sq ft building and commissioning a 20,000 sq ft extension.

A further 50,000 sq ft of recently completed office space is let to Northumbria NHS.

A 55 acre site including the Atmel offices and a water fabrication plant adjacent to Cobalt is acquired.

The second phase of the Abbots Park development completed.  Buildings let to RMG and Newbreed Freight Ltd.

Completion of a new purpose built 23,000 sq ft office building pre-let to Alfred McAlpine Infrastructure Ltd.

Abbots Park office building let to Alfred McAlpine Business Information Systems Ltd.

GE Money lease a 30,000 sq ft building at Cobalt.

Completion of a 15,000 sq ft NHS treatment centre let to Capio Healthcare Ltd.

EDS take occupation of 50,000 sq ft of offices in Cobalt 2.  They subsequently exercise their option to lease the remaining 50,000 sq ft in the building.

The first office building lettings on Abbots Park to Dimension Data, David McLean Homes Ltd, RMC (UK) Ltd and AD Aerospace Ltd.

The first five office buildings completed at the Abbots Park development in Preston Brook.

A site adjacent to Cobalt is purchased from Atmel which provides the company with the opportunity to expand Cobalt and become the UK's leading office park with a capacity of over 2m square feet.

Construction of the Newcastle Village Leisure hotel, which comprises 15 conference rooms, 124 bedrooms and a leisure centre and pool, is completed.

Planning approval received for construction of 9 office units at Abbots Park development in Preston Brook, Cheshire.

Orange take occupation of a second 80,000 sq ft building which it operates as a customer care centre.

Completion of a 98,000 sq ft building at Cobalt and letting to Procter and Gamble (P&G) who located one of their European shared services centre there.  P&G subsequently agreed to lease a second 56,000 sq ft office building on an adjacent plot at Cobalt.

A speculative Call Centre is developed and subsequently let to Orange – who go on to take a further Call Centre on the adjacent plot.

The recently acquired EZ site is named “Cobalt” and work commences on the first 3 office buildings totalling a net 90,000 sq ft. 

The company acquires a 140 acre newly designated Enterprise Zone (EZ) development site north east of Newcastle upon Tyne with a joint venture partner.

The Company develops its first “Enterprise Zone” scheme being a Focus DIY unit at Speke on Merseyside.  This is followed by an office development in the Tannochside Enterprise Zone in Scotland for US Corporation Tyco. The expertise in developing Enterprise Zone sites would stand the Company in good stead for future Enterprise Zone site development.

Residential development and General Contracting continues to grow as does the increasing emphasis on Commercial development.

The Company worked closely with such household names as B&Q, Focus DIY, Harris Queensway and Booths Supermarkets to develop and establish retail locations in the North West and beyond.

Ashall begins the Planning Application process to change the use category of the land bank from agricultural to residential status.

The Company acquires land in the south Warrington area.

Development of a south Warrington area known as Appleton Park commences in the mid 1950’s, with an innovative “open plan” US style layout that became a blueprint for residential new build estates in the UK. This continues for several decades and includes the acquisition of a former US Army base, also re-developed for residential.

The Company was set up as a general Building Contractor and residential developer around the Warrington area.