15 June 2004

A NORTH Yorkshire electronics manufacturing business is expanding into new £1m premises, thanks to legal support from Harrogate-based commercial lawyers, Barber Titleys.

Industrial alarm systems manufacturer, RTK Engineering, has acquired new premises at St James Business Park, Knaresborough, after advice and legal work by property lawyers at Barber Titleys helped make the deal possible.

The progress of RTK Engineering, which designs and manufactures alarm systems for the worldwide power and processing industries and exports 70 per cent of its products, has been hindered by its current base in a series of cramped old properties in St Peter’s Square, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate.

Barber Titleys town planning lawyer, partner, Tim Axe, helped RTK Engineering gain planning permission for seven three-bedroom homes at Peter’s Square and head of the property department, partner Richard Davis, and his team carried out legal work in the sale of the site and acquiring the new 22,000 sq ft premises where the business will move this summer.

RTK Engineering managing director, Tim McLeman, says: “We have been at St Peter’s Square for around 30 years and have grown from three to 32 staff so we fill all the available space and cannot expand any further.

“Business is healthy and we need to take on more staff but lack the necessary space. A lack of office and production space, suitable parking and vehicle access are hindering our progress. We are looking forward to our move so we can fulfil our potential and enjoy a brighter future.”

Legal work by Tim Axe also included advising on the St Peter’s Square development potential and obtaining planning consent, including addressing planning issues such as the release of an employment site for residential development.

Tim McLeman adds: “It was very useful to deal with a local law firm with the breadth of property expertise to help manage all stages of our move. The subsequent sale of the old site has enabled us to acquire and fit out our new facility. We would not have been able to afford this otherwise. I am very pleased with what Barber Titleys helped us to achieve.”

Richard Davis says: “We have a very broad range of planning expertise for a firm of our size and it has been very rewarding to assist RTK Engineering at every stage of their relocation and help create a better platform for their development. They are something to be treasured - a healthy, expanding manufacturing enterprise and we wish them every success.”

BUILDING SUCCESS: (Pictured L to R) The head of Barber Titleys’ Property Department, Richard Davis; RTK Engineering Ltd managing director, Tim McLeman and Barber Titleys property partner, Tim Axe outside RTK Engineering Ltd’s new premises at St James Business Park, Knaresborough.

Ends

For further details on Barber Titleys, please contact marketing manager, Michelle Crowhurst. Tel (01423) 501122. For further details on RTK Engineering, please contact Tim McLeman. Tel; (01423) 508253.

Press contact: Mike Clarke, Mike Clarke Communications. Tel (01423) 568847.