Ipswich dealership Orwell Motorcycles, has purchased its Ranelagh Road premises, securing its long-term future and opening up opportunities for expansion.
Orwell has been based at its Ranelagh Road premises for a quarter of a century, building up a business that now boasts franchises for Suzuki, Kawasaki, Royal Enfield, CFMoto, and KTM.
Its 25-year lease was due to expire this autumn, so it needed a plan for the future. Fortunately, Orwell was able to buy the building outright after a change of landlord, seizing the opportunity to secure its operations in a prime location, with the added potential to grow both the business and the premises.
“We’d been considering our options for the last two years,” said Orwell director Dave Willis. “We want to expand, and had even thought about relocating, but we like it here; it’s a great location. Moving would have been a lot of hassle and very expensive.
“An opportunity to buy the building came up, and after many months of negotiations, we eventually took ownership. It now gives us the chance to add an additional floor and expand. A mezzanine would create extra storage above the workshop and could also provide office space, display areas for a motorcycle brand, and a customer meeting area. Plans also include fitting solar panels on the roof to reduce energy costs.
“We want to expand and make the dealership a destination, especially as there are fewer bike shops now. This will also help us attract customers from a wider area.”