HBD and Barnfield start work on £100m APTUS scheme

By Rob Kelly

24 Sep 2024

HBD and Barnfield start on site at APTUS

HBD, part of Henry Boot, and Barnfield Construction, part of Barnfield Group, held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of work on site at APTUS, the JV’s strategic industrial and logistics scheme in Preston.

The £100 million scheme will provide a major boost for the Lancashire economy, creating up to 1,500 jobs and attracting crucial inward investment, including first occupier Kerakoll which is expanding from its current base in Leyland.  

HBD and Barnfield have secured planning permission for 800,000sq ft of high quality, sustainable space at APTUS, which has seen strong interest from occupiers, particularly given its excellent location at Junction 31A of the M6, close to the established Roman Way industrial estate.

Ed Hutchinson, managing director of HBD, said: “It’s great to be able to get started on site, putting the infrastructure in place to deliver this important employment scheme. Once the spine road is complete, Barnfield will begin construction on Kerakoll’s 145,000sq ft unit early next year.

“APTUS will inject much needed space into the market, helping to ease the under-supply within the region, while providing bespoke, sustainable buildings that meet occupiers’ ESG objectives.”

Tracy Clavell-Bate, Head of Development at Barnfield Group, said: “It’s fantastic to see work progressing at pace at APTUS – the spine road will open up and serve the entire site, alongside off- site highway improvements and new services.

"We’re also creating a biodiversity area of 15 acres to the south of the site, coupled with a payment to Lancashire Wildlife Trust. It Is great to be working with HBD again on our third joint venture development following the extremely successful schemes at Huyton and Preston East".

Units are available from 25,000sq ft to 500,000sq ft at APTUS. The agents are Gerald Eve, Young & Co and Eckersley Property.

HBD, part of Henry Boot, is one of the UK’s most well established property developers.

It boasts an impressive track record, strong financial backing and a reputation for delivery that has seen it become the partner of choice for local authorities, investors, and developers.

Working with a £1.3 billion development pipeline, HBD operates from six UK offices, focusing on industrial and logistics, urban development and residential projects.

Barnfield Group are contractors, developers and investors working with public and private sector partners and clients for more than 40 years.

Headquartered in Lancashire, the £80 million turnover property group is delivering a diverse range of schemes on more than 30 live sites nationwide. The organisation is a market leader in its field, with an excellent track record in every sector of the industry.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

BAE Systems workers vote for strike action BAE Systems production

BAE Systems workers vote for strike action

23 Oct 2025

2

National Cyber Force launches startup programme in the North West Nick Miles, National Cyber Force deputy director for Samlesbury

National Cyber Force launches startup programme in the North West

23 Oct 2025

3

Foresight announces £90m first close of its third North West regional investment fund Foresight announces £90 million first close of its third dedicated North West regional investment fund

Foresight announces £90m first close of its third North West regional investment fund

23 Oct 2025

4

McMurrays Haulage expands fleet after contract win Warehouse Supervisor at Pets Choice Brad Eddleston and McMurrays Sales Manager Rob Spencer. Photo credit: McMurrays Haulage Limited

McMurrays Haulage expands fleet after contract win

21 Oct 2025

5

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day Derry Green

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day

21 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Business Lunch – October
LBV Hub Networking
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – October

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

11:00 - 13:30

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin