Dow signs pre-let for UK headquarters in Cheadle

Global science solutions provider Dow will open its new UK & Ireland headquarters at Cheadle Royal Business Park in Stockport after taking a pre-let on a 26,000 sq ft building.

The £175m business park is being developed by Muse, and following Dow’s letting, a planning application for the headquarters is expected in the coming weeks. This will host Dow’s national management team, its technical and sales office, as well as a product research and R&D facility.

Subject to planning permission, construction could start in spring next year with the development completing in early 2020. The building will be on the plot Oakfield 4 at the business park, near Jacobs Engineering’s existing office, leaving Lakeside 5000 as the only further plot available.

Andrew Jones, president UK & Ireland at Dow said: “We look forward to moving our UK & Ireland headquarters to Cheadle Royal, which sits at the heart of a strong customer base in the North of England. Cheadle Royal provides us with the state-of-the-art facilities we need to support our continued growth.”

The US-headquartered business was founded in 1897 and has been operating in the UK since the 1950s. Other sites in the country include at King’s Lynn, Cambridge, Dewsbury, and Cambridge.

Cllr Kate Butler, cabinet member for economy and regeneration at Stockport Council said: ““I’m delighted to welcome Dow to Stockport.  Their decision to move their UK headquarters is a huge boost for our town, and sees them joining the likes of Adidas, Starkey Laboratories and MAN Diesel and Turbo, who have all their main bases in the borough.

“Stockport is arguably one of the UK’s prime and best connected business locations and has time and again proved a popular destination for companies looking to make significant investments. These decisions bring new jobs and opportunities to the borough, benefiting everyone who lives and works in Stockport.”

Greg Ball, development surveyor at Muse added: “Attracting Dow, who are a major blue-chip company, is a significant accomplishment for Cheadle Royal and the borough of Stockport, which will bring highly-skilled jobs and investment to the area.”

Other businesses based at Cheadle Royal include Balfour Beatty, Capita, Jarden, Agilent Technologies, and Together Money.