The five new business units which consist of a detached single storey industrial warehouse, made out of steel portal frames, were delivered by LTDGC, built by design and build contractor VolkerFitzpatrick and designed by award winning Alison Brooks Architects.

The first winner of the popular BBC show The Apprentice, founder of the Bright Ideas Trust and the Mayor for London's training and enterprise ambassador, Tim Campbell, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. This marked the successful transformation of the former derelict warehouses, that had been vacant for more than 10 years, into landmark, high quality business units.

The £1.2 million project, constructed by VolkerFitzpatrick, incorporates the reuse of the original warehouse slab and frame, a new sustainably insulated roof following asbestos removal and the use of a multi coloured cladding system that has been carbon offset by the manufacturer.

Bicycle racks and showers have been included in the design in order to encourage workers to cycle to work and the exterior also benefits from a dedicated parking and yard space. FSC certified Garapa timber cladding has been used on the east elevation of the units. As part of a separate contract, also won by VolkerFitzpatrick, a new steel and timber pedestrian bridge will be built in the open space, creating a new connection to the marshes. Such design features which help to minimise environmental impact, have enabled the development to achieve a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating.

Strategically located on its own plot adjacent to Rainham Station, at 6-10 Lamson Road, and visible from the Eurostar, these sleek and colourful warehouse units stand out from the usual industrial building, and range in size from 450 to 986 square metres. Named Wildspace to mark their proximity to Rainham Marshes the development will provide opportunities for new and already sucessful businesses to re-locate and grow, in one of five environmentally sustainable industrial units.

Mr Campbell said: "Businesses are the place where you can not only earn but learn. The arrival of new and successful businesses to Wildspace is an opportunity for young people to make that first step towards a successful career or even to running a business of their own."

In his pep talk to businesses leaders who gathered to mark Wildspace's opening, Mr Campbell urged them to develop real ‘in-work' training initiatives that allow people to realise their potential which would in turn bring about real businesses benefits.

Mark Phillips, divisional manager at VolkerFitzpatrick, said: "We are delighted to have finished building these units, which have not only brought long-term derelict land back in to use, but will also provide sustainably built space for the local community and its budding entrepreneurs. Our culture as a business fits well with the strategic aims of this project, so it has been a great privilege to work with everyone involved. We would like to wish all the companies well who make Wildspace their base and hope that local young people will gain valuable training and support from young, ambitious businesses."