Quality Control is keeping a firm grip on the job.

It is not difficult to analyse why Stewart Dixon and his wife Dawn have been so successful in business. Since first starting out in residential development in surrounding villages of the Penrith area their aim and hallmark has been quality, produced by keeping a close grip on the construction work.

Indeed, Foxhill, their own beautiful home in the stunning Matterdale Valley near Ullswater, which they converted from an old farmhouse and barn and put together with visionary skill and care, was voted runner-up in the 1998 Daily Telegraph 'House of the Year' award.

The commercial development arm of the business was begun in 1996 when they acquired land on the popular Gilwilly Estate on the outskirts of Penrith, where all units from Hartness Road in a recently developed part of the Estate.

Land and property on the Gilwilly Industrial Estate has emerged to hold something of a premium over the last few years, as Penrith and it's strategic location becomes more popular in an over transient world.

With easy links to the M6 Motorway and the East-West trans Penine route, Penrith, with a population of around 15,000, is situated on the fringe of the Lake District National Park.

A traditional northern market town, Penrith has a comprehensive range of local amenities. Penrith railway station is on the main West Coast Line, with London around four hours away.

Gilwilly Estate lies to the West of the town bounded by the M6 motorway, and is accessed by junction 40 of the M6 less than one mile away. The estate incorporates a range of businesses and properties and had grown rapidly with inward investors over the past few years, chiefly because of its location and the quality of life the surrounding area affords.

The Dixons first built an 8,500sq ft building on Gilwilly Estate, which sold as freehold in 1997 to be a base for Heather Products Ltd who specialise in wholesale outdoor clothes.

The next to be constructed was a bespoke 2,100sq ft office building for the Cumbrian Newspapers new multimedia section.

The Department of Cumbria Inward Investment were instrumental in setting up the meeting between Cumbrian Newspapers group and the Dixons.

 

Phase two of this unit, was a single storey warehouse/workshop with offices. A steel frame construction with brick and profile facing walls, complete with roller shutter doors, integral office and toilets, parking and loading areas. This property covers 3,500sq ft, with a possible second storey section adding another 500sq ft.

Additional office space, heating and other special requirements of the occupier can be incorporated as part of a package or can be added by the tenant. The unit is available on a full repairing and insurance lease for a term of five years or multiple thereof. All mains services are available.

"We have further land on this site and the plan is to continue on the same theme, building up a select but small business park, as a very popular Industrial Estate.

The residential arm of the Dixons' property business kick-started the whole process off some ten years ago. It all began with three units at Laithes village, near Penrith when two houses were converted to houses, plus one new-build.

Ten village houses were next at Town Foot, Skelton, where a range of starter homes and mid-range properties quickly sold in this popular village.

Newton Meadows came next, an upmarket development of detached four bedroomed houses in the quiet village location of Newton Reigny. Well situated only two miles from Penrith, Newton Reigny has fine views of the Lake District hills, a well-known village inn and is in a very popular school catchment area.

"The secret to producing quality is being in control of the work yourself," says Mr Dixon.

Speaking of the Gilwilly properties, Mr Dixon said I don't think there's anything quite like this in the Penrith area.

"I get involved with all the construction work and keep a close eye on every detail so we are very proud of what we are doing here," he said.