Longstanding Cambridge business Swiss Laundry has successfully completed the sale of its home on Cherry Hinton Road for an undisclosed fee, as it moves its operations to a new purpose-built commercial laundry at Papworth Business Park.
Advised by local property agents Cheffins and Savills, the site was brought to market on an unconditional basis earlier this year.
Following a competitive tender that attracted multiple bids a deal has now been agreed.
Mark Turvill, director at Swiss Laundry, whichhad been operating in Cherry Hinton Road for 115 years, said: “Our commercial laundry business has enjoyed successive years of growth and, as a result, we had outgrown the Cherry Hinton Road site. Our board recognised the need for larger premises; a space which would allow us to modernise, evolve and build resilience for the long-term.
“We were unable to find suitable premises in Cambridge so the net was cast more widely to Papworth, where we have invested in a new purpose-built commercial laundry. This sale and move has enabled us to invest in the very latest environmentally responsible technology and plant, while creating new jobs.”
Edward Dodson, director of commercial at Cheffins, said: “I have been acting for Swiss Laundry since 2000 and this sale concludes a very long and enjoyable journey in sourcing a suitable relocation property to enable the business to fulfil its ambitious expansion plans, as well as marketing what we knew would be a much sought after and rare opportunity in central Cambridge.”
Richard Janes, who heads the development team at Savills Cambridge, continued: “We were not surprised by the number of bids we had. However, the diversity of the parties and prospective uses was very interesting – reflecting the unique opportunity to buy a site with potential for mixed use so close to the city centre.”