If you go down to the woods in Nottinghamshire today you’re in for a big surprise – they’ve been transformed into a sustainable home for business. The wood in question is Ransom Wood on the outskirts of Mansfield, which was once home to a hospital but has now been turned into one of the best-kept commercial property secrets in North Notts.

Ransom Wood Business Park is now home to a number of private and public sector organisations, who have taken advantage of a site which blends a countryside setting with state-of-the-art facilities and close proximity to major road networks. It has been developed under the guidance of the Cannon family, well-known in North Notts for their associations with Mansfield Sand but now devoted to the long-term growth of Ransom Wood.

James Cannon, MD of Ransom Wood Estates says that though the concept appears different to conventional business parks, it is grounded in a site which started with a number of inbuilt advantages. “It had buildings and a fully-developed infrastructure already on site because of its previous use,” he said. “What we have done is use those as the basis for our concept, which is that of a sustainable business location which is, in some ways, ahead of its time.

“We have refurbished existing property, developed new buildings and new facilities and we are now more than 80 per cent full at this stage of development. This has given us a strong community of organisations and businesses – but there is clearly potential for more. We have certainly got some ambitious targets for what this site can achieve for its tenants and as a sustainable site which sets new standards for its relationship with the environment, but the bottom line is that it works as a commercial location.”

The park, which is being marketed by surveyor Laura West from the Nottingham property consultancy FHP, is already home to a number of NHS organisations, a college’s admin nerve centre, specialist engineering businesses, marketing and media companies, a furnishing business, and IT and consulting companies.

Between them, Ransom Wood Business Park’s occupiers employ around 800 people across more than a dozen buildings.

It covers some 70 acres, has on-site support staff available round-the-clock and also features an on-site restaurant and conference centre in the shape of Forever Green, a standalone building which means businesses do not need to leave the site to entertain or hold meetings. Though a substantial amount of the site’s current space is fully occupied, its size means there is still a range of space available, from small units which would suit young businesses in their early stages through to new, open-plan offices with woodland views. Some are in refurbished buildings, others in new developments like The Willows.

Laura West said: “Ransom Wood is a genuinely unique location and that’s something you can’t say about so many business parks. The setting really is stunning – rural, quiet and beautifully managed, yet it’s right next to the Mansfield-Ashfield Regeneration Route, a road which links you to both the A1, the A38 and the M1. That puts a massive market on your doorstep.

“It also has some built-in advantages, with an infrastructure that has made it easy to deliver state-of-the-art services and an on-site restaurant where you can take clients and even hold meetings and conferences. In the Cannon family it also has an incredibly committed landlord. Ransom Wood simply wouldn’t be what it is without their vision and their passion for developing a site which is green in every sense of the word but still makes sense as a place to put your business.”

She says that one of the main reasons that businesses have chosen to come to Ransom Wood is the environment and the site’s self-contained convenience: “This is business with nature and that is just not available elsewhere. But it’s also practical – it’s easy to reach, you don’t have problems parking on site and all the facilities are here.”

Charles Cannon, a director of Ransom Wood Estates, added: “Environment can sometimes be a hard-sell for business, but not here – it comes built-in. We’re committed to meeting high environmental standards and we have a number of long-term ambitions to make the site sustainable – we’re even looking at ways of generating energy on site. We believe the environment is important here in another sense and that is in providing people with a great place to work. This is business, but it’s also business with nature.”

 ENDS

For further information contact Laura West at FHP on 0115 950 7577

FHP Property Consultants are have confirm that Network expert Layer 3 has moved to No.1 Nottingham Science Park as part of growth plans.

The company has signed a five-year lease with Blueprint, developers of the iconic University Boulevard building.

Layer 3 recently increased the size of its team from five to nine and is now set to increase its workforce again within 12 months.

Only one suite remains unoccupied in the building, which is the centrepiece of Blueprint’s 12-acre Science Park extension.

Layer 3, which has leased 1,750 square feet, was attracted to its new location by the architectural design of the building, its Grade A office specification, and its ultra-fast fibre broadband connectivity.

Steve D’Arcy, Layer 3 Commercial Director, said:

“This is a much larger space, perfect for our growing business, and a landmark building. It looks good, it is in a great location and it has generated a great vibe for our business. The offices are visually appealing, which creates a positive atmosphere that our customers will love, and there was a good deal on the broadband too, which is an extra bonus.”

He added:

“There is a real sense of community among the tenants here, and it is great to be working alongside like-minded people, and I am already looking into doing some business with one of my neighbours.”

James Hartley of Property consultants FHP added:

“Having been involved with the sciene park for a number of years it is great to see the building evovling in terms of its tenant mix and the interacton between the companies that all seem to thrive together.

I think this letting to Layer 3 will be the latest example of this within the building and I am convinced that we will see them grow and develop during their time in the building.”

Blueprint Development Director, John Long, said:

“We’ve worked hard at Nottingham Science Park to develop a community of genuinely leading edge innovators – some of the best in the region. This latest letting to Layer 3 is good for the park, but more importantly it’s good for Nottingham. These businesses are creating sustainable and high quality jobs.”

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the letting of No. 4 Russell Place on Talbot Street in Nottingham City Centre. The property comprises a self contained period office building within attractive landscaped gardens set between Talbot Street and Clarendon Street in the Professional Quarter of Nottingham City Centre. The property has been leased by Pam Group Limited, a national occupational health organisation who are expanding into Nottingham.

Jim Murphy, Managing Director of Pam Group commented:-

“Our new occupational health and wellbeing clinic at Russell Place will allow us to support the health and wellbeing of our clients and the employees of Nottingham and the East Midlands. We are delighted to have a Nottingham City Centre location where we will provide a full range of occupational health services including medicals, management advice, physiotherapy and counselling services.”

Mark Tomlinson of FHP Property Consultants added:-

“We were made aware that 3 buildings in Russell Place may be coming available following a lease expiry in September and this one seemed to work perfectly for Pam Group. It is rare to have self contained offices of this compact size in the City Centre on the market, with most of the options for this size requirement being within shared buildings. An occupational health organisation such as Pam Group, who provide medical consultancy, found that the location of the property, being just a stone’s throw away from the heart of the city, coupled with the self contained nature of the building, worked very well.

Our clients are now reviewing proposals for the refurbishment of the adjoining 2 properties, which are likely to become available to let in the next few weeks.”

The Russell Place estate is part of a commercial property portfolio managed by Trustees, and chartered surveyor Tim Harries of Tim Harries and Partners, asset manager to the trustees, commented:-

“Our clients are long-term investors, and the recent letting to Pam Group is an endorsement of the strategy to maximise returns from the Russell Place Estate by refurbishing these attractive buildings to appeal to the current market.”

FHP Property Consultants have recently secured a deal which sees UJS Hillel set up their latest base on Derby Road. UJS Hillel are a national Jewish student support organisation who provide a range of residential and non-residential support hubs to provide their members with facilities and resources to support their studies.

Mark Tomlinson, Surveyor at FHP Property Consultants commented:-

“The Union of Jewish Students had been looking for premises for some time, exploring various options and requirements over the last 2 years. Already having a base in Beeston this is an expansion of their existing offer and will provide a convenient centre for both their Nottingham University and Nottingham Trent University Student members.”

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the sale of the self-contained office building at Unit 3 Edison Village on Nottingham’s Science Park.  The property was bought privately and the property will now be occupied by PR Power Installations Limited, a local building technology services provider.  Following positive expansion of their business they have taken this opportunity to expand into the Science Park.

Matt Russell, Director of PR Power Installations Limited commented:-

“We have been looking for opportunities to occupy premises in this location for some time and we jumped at the opportunity to occupy premises on the established and well regarded Science Park.  This move means we are now well placed to serve many of our clients in the close vicinity including Nottingham University and The Queens Medical Centre, among others”

Nick Corder, of Corder Commercial, who acted on behalf of the purchaser in agreeing the sale of this property commented:-

“We had a choice of potential units, but the Science Park location, the available car parking, and the extension of the tram system clinched the decision”

Unit 3, Edison Village comprises a self contained two storey office property extending 1,152ft² with good levels of onsite car parking within easy reach of the city centre, the ring road and the M1 Motorway.

Mark Tomlinson of FHP Property Consultants who acted on behalf of the vendor in the sale commented:-

“I am delighted that we have achieved a sale of this long leasehold interest within approximately 6 months of marketing, a very healthy time scale in the current market conditions. Although generally demand for office premises is suppressed I am pleased that there is still appetite among local investors to purchase property. Undoubtedly this is a sign of confidence returning to the market place, especially for properties in well established locations such as the Nottingham Science Park. I wish PR Power Installations Limited all the best with their expansion plans”.

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the recent acquisition of 23 Royal Scott Road, Pride Park, Derby to Moduleo.

The hybrid unit which extends to 3,200ft² has been let by way of a new full repairing and insuring lease for six years.

Moduleo is a division of the IVC Group, a world class manufacturers of vinyl floor coverings, who specialise in the production of high quality modular synthetic floor ranges for residential and professional premises.  Their designs replicate the delicate patterns and textures of the natural world.

Investments in patented technology to produce coverings that are truly unique, Moduleo floors aim to inspire and satisfy the requirements of their most demanding customers.  Their designs are manufactured in a purpose built eco facility in Belgium, bringing the flooring market from the East back to the UK.

David Bigland the Managing Director of the UK and ERIE division commented:-

“We are delighted with our new premises on Pride Park as they offer an excellent space for us to expand our business. This could not have been possible without the help of George Dunnicliff of FHP Property Consultants who acted on our behalf to secure the letting. We look forward to the future in our new home.’’

George Dunnicliff of FHP Property Consultants who acquired the premises commented:-

“It was particularly pleasing to acquire and complete the letting of 23 Royal Scott Road to Moduleo, and to see an international flooring business move to Pride Park. I would like to wish David and his team the very best of luck for the future.”

For further information on Acquisition Services or office/industrial premises please feel free to contact George Dunnicliff on 01332 343222 or george@fhp.co.uk

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the recent letting of second and third floors at 41 Cornmarket, Derby to The Royal Bank of Scotland.  The second and third floors extending to 2,922ft² have been let by way of a new five year lease.

RBS who already occupy the ground floor retail and first floor required further space for their expansion plans which the upper floor space provides the perfect answer to accommodate them.

George Dunnicliff of FHP Property Consultants who carried out the letting commented:-

“It is very pleasing to hear of the recent letting of the second and third floors at 41 Cornmarket to The Royal Bank of Scotland.   This letting shows that office space in the City Centre is still sought after.   I wish all of the team at RBS the very best of luck for the future.”

An exclusive personal training and sports performance facility is opening at Chapel Quarter in Nottingham City Centre, in a deal secured by FHP and Savills.

Owned by personal trainer and strength coach Mark Coles, M10 Fitness is moving in to Unit B3 of the much sought after Chapel Quarter development in Maid Marion Way.  The 5,500 sq ft unit is on the ground floor and is currently being transformed into a gym, ready for the opening of M10’s flagship facility at the end of September.

M10 is already an established brand in the county and Mark set up his first gym four years ago in Farndon Marina, Newark.  The gym has been hugely successful with five resident personal trainers, and attracts clients from across the Midlands. M10’s results have also been praised by national health and fitness magazines including Men’s Health.

M10 is not just a standard gym, it is a results based training system that coaches people through a life changing journey to achieving a body of their dreams. 

Mark says:

“Over the last four years, myself and my team of coaches have worked extremely hard to ensure we deliver some of the highest quality personal training and results available in the UK.  My sole purpose is the delivery of excellence.

The decision to create M10 Nottingham is something I have been planning for a long time. As a business we receive a lot of enquires from people living or working in the City.  Our current gym is located 20 miles away, which many find a little too far.  So once I found the available unit in Chapel Quarter, I knew immediately it was the perfect location in terms of size and potential reach, so I pressed on to make it happen.

My passion has always been to create high quality personal training facilities where results are the number one priority.  I strive to create a training environment that inspires everyone that enters to achieve their goals.  We are committed to helping every single one of our clients achieve their lifelong dream of being in their best shape of their lives and we will do whatever we can to help them achieve it.”

The gym is currently being completely re-furbished and will be fitted out with the highest quality of strength training equipment, male and female changing rooms, a two lane 22 metre sprint track, an infra-red sauna, a visiting consultant suite and two treatment rooms.

James Hartley of FHP acted for the landlord and secured the deal with Ian Muxlow of Savills, who acted for M10.

James said:

“Chapel Quarter is an iconic landmark building in the City.  It is already occupied by established firms including Holiday Inn Express, several bars and restaurants, plus a number of corporate firms. 

Fronting on to Maid Marian Way, the building takes advantage of excellent transport links including the Market Square and Theatre Royal tram stops, as well as a nearby multi story car park.

The unit ticked all the boxes for M10’s expansion plans into Nottingham, but most importantly it gave Mark the scope to contribute towards its refurbishment ensuring that the space will meet all the demands of a quality gym facility.”

Ian Muxlow from Savills said:

“M10 is not your average gym, and Mark had very specific requirements which he needed in order to meet his business needs.  Chapel Quarter gives them a high profile location within a landmark scheme, ideally placed to serve their target market.

The protracted negotiations we have structured have enabled us to secure very favourable terms on our client’s behalf.”

Jones Lang LaSalle acted as the joint agents with FHP to market the unit.

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the recent letting of 23 Barker Gate, an office property located opposite the ice stadium Nottingham’s Lace Market.  The premises have been let to Education and Youth Services Limited (EYS UK), a youth education and training organisation providing learning resources for a variety of age groups.

Following an increase in local contracts EYS UK required an expansion of their existing operations in the city and required self-contained premises close to the city centre, of which there are few options available at this time.

Mark Tomlinson, Surveyor at FHP Property Consultants who acted on behalf of the landlord commented:-

“This letting is one of 4 recent transactions totalling over 20,000 sq ft which have either been let or put under offer in the last month in the Lace Market alone.  This is undoubtedly a positive statistic for the area as vacancy rates have fallen fairly significantly as a result.”

“I am delighted to have completed this letting to EYS as they have been looking for suitable premises for some time in a variety of locations.  As well as being located a stone’s throw away from New College, this property ticks many of the boxes required for an educational establishment and I hope that the premises suits the requirements of EYS UK for many years to come.”

AN INTERNATIONAL translation company has moved into new premises in Nottingham city centre in a deal secured by property agents Innes England and FHP.

EVS Translations will be moving to Regent Street in the city centre as part of its programme of expansion.

The company, which has more than 100 in-house translators, proofreaders, project managers, DTP and IT experts across Europe and America, carries out over 20,000 translation and interpretation assignments each year.

With its head office in Germany, the UK hosts the largest international operation of EVS Translations Group. Other sites include Paris, France, Sofia, Bulgaria and Atlanta, USA, completing the group’s global reach. The UK branch of EVS Translations has now expanded its operation into much larger premises to manage its growth plans for the coming years.

Gregg Babbs, business development manager of EVS Translations, said: “We are very pleased to have found the right central location.

“We are one of the leading international translation companies in the UK market. Due to our continued success, we needed a larger office to house all of our existing employees, but also an office that can accommodate our growth.”

The beautiful Georgian building is Grade II listed and falls within the Canning Circus Conservation Area. Spanning across four floors, there’s plenty of office space, storage and kitchen facilities. The car park, which is accessed on nearby Oxford Street offers at least five parking spaces. But for those without cars, the property is a short walk from the city’s shopping centre and a range of public transport links. 

Giles Davis of Innes England said: “EVS Translations came to us looking for bigger premises with office facilities, but they were still keen to remain in the city.

“Regent Street is a fantastic location, with beautiful buildings, and with five parking spaces around the back of the property, it’s ideal for a business that needs to be in a professional environment with easy access for its clients.”

Mark Tomlinson of FHP Property Consultants, said: “This letting follows a number of leasehold transactions in this area resulting in a sharp reduction in availability, only three months ago there were five buildings available to let on Regent Street, and there is now only one.  The reason? These buildings, which were once out of the price range of many local occupiers, are now affordable to many and companies are finding that you can now get a lot for your money.”

For some businesses, it used to be commercial property’s equivalent of things that dreams are made of. But changed market conditions mean an address near Nottingham Playhouse is no longer out of reach, says MARK TOMLINSON.

Elegant streets, period facades and front doors straight out of Downing Street… it sounds like the stuff of dreams for most professional businesses. And for a long time it was in Nottingham, with properties situated in the handsome terraced streets radiating out from Wellington Circus commanding some pretty handsome rents and freehold values.

For decades this quiet corner of the city has been established as Nottingham’s traditional professional quarter, with the area bordered by Park Row, The Ropewalk and Derby Road occupied by accountants, law firms, private clinics and a range of property and development businesses. The location is discreet, and the buildings prominent without being ostentatious.

It retains that sober, professional demeanour to this day. But the price that comes with exclusivity can sometimes work against you, and the immediate aftermath of the credit crunch saw vacancy rates and void periods for properties in the professional quarter start to rise as businesses which might once have looked at this location opted instead for office parks on the fringe of the city centre which offered Grade A accommodation and more flexible open plan accommodation.

Even in the good times, the period buildings in the professional quarter would have struggled to match the flexibility and specification of office parks. But they do offer something else, which is an upmarket environment surrounded by some excellent amenities, ranging from the established Hart’s restaurant and Cast Deli through to the recently-opened Browns Brasserie. Just a couple of minutes’ walk from the city centre, this is the long-established meeting place for the city’s professional services and much of the city’s business is done in these streets.

All the evidence is that much business is now being done in these streets again. In a classic demonstration of the economy rebalancing itself to bring price expectations back in tune with what the market can bear, there has been a correction in rental values in Nottingham’s professional quarter. The result? There have been 20 office transactions in the area during the last 12 months as small to medium-sized businesses, previously based in secondary locations and who thought a prestige address was out of reach, have realised one of the city’s most well-established location is both financially accessible and professionally viable.

Businesses now enjoying the benefits of the professional quarter include the investment research and representation business Hallbrook Partners, financial advisory firm Wallwood Independent, the international translation business EVS Translation, and The Yamaha Music School. All are benefiting from a prestige location and all the benefits that go with it.

Landlords who have accepted the rental correction which took place over the last three years now have less to worry about when it comes to assessing void periods. In fact, the main concern now is that the number of deals that have taken place over the past few months means there is now a shortage of supply.

While the majority of the movement in the professional quarter has been down to rental deals, buildings which have an enduring appeal mean there has always been regular demand for freehold opportunities. They are few and far between though, with many freeholders having little appetite to sell in suppressed market conditions. One of the few available at the moment is 36 Regent Street, it’s a rare opportunity for all sorts of reasons – a freehold detached period building which is high quality and has ample parking. We were instructed to take it to market only recently but the levels of interest have been predictably high, and with settled tenants in place this is an interesting investment opportunity.

The story of Nottingham’s professional quarter is the story of a truism: in the long run, quality always sells.

The UK’s largest supplier of staff to the further education sector is to move its headquarters to a landmark office development at West Bridgford in a deal secured by the office and industrial team at the Midlands property consultancies FHP and Innes England.

Protocol National, which has become the leading supplier of lecturers, assessors, verifiers and senior staff to colleges across the country, is to take more than 5,800 sq ft of space at The Point, a striking office complex on Loughborough Road, West Bridgford.

Protocol National’s arrival means that so far this year more than 11,500 sq ft of space at The Point has been let by joint agents FHP and Innes England.  Only two suites remain available at the new build office scheme.  James Hartley, associate director at FHP, says the deals reflect the increasing strength of West Bridgford as a business location, with high quality accommodation supported by good road links and excellent retail and leisure amenities.

He commented:

“Protocol National is a market leader in outsourced further education staffing and its decision to relocate its head office to The Point is a vote of confidence not just in The Point but in West Bridgford as a location generally.  During the past few months we have seen an increasing trend for businesses to consider sites in and around West Bridgford, which demonstrates that it has increasing professional appeal.”

Craig Straw of joint agents Innes England added:

“With the completion of this latest letting The Point is now 80% let reflecting the market’s preference for well designed and located premises.  With no commercial construction over recent years such opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce.”

Protocol National has moved its headquarters from a site in Nottingham, with two office suites at The Point merged to provide the business with 5,888 sq ft of high quality space.  It manages and coordinates the provision of more than 11,000 full and part-time staff every year for further education colleges across England, Wales and Scotland, providing an award-winning service to establishments looking for flexible staffing solutions.

Viv Cruickshank, Managing Director of Protocol National, commented:

“Professionalism and quality are the main priorities of Protocol National. The Point was, therefore, a perfect fit with the ethos of our company and the way in which we want to be perceived.  In coming to West Bridgford we are able to provide our staff with high quality offices with a professional appeal and presence, while still offering them vibrant facilities at a site still only minutes away from the city centre.”

James Hartley says lettings at The Point and other locations nearby point to both the high quality amenities available in West Bridgford and the appeal of sites which lie just beyond the zone which attracts a charge under the terms of Nottingham City Council’s Workplace Parking Levy.

“We have started to see a noticeable trend for people to examine options outside the WPL zone.  This is far from the only factor in these lettings, though.  Businesses are looking at locations like West Bridgford itself, Edwalton and Ruddington because edge-of-city sites are cost effective and because the calibre of the amenities is first class.  West Bridgford is an affluent suburb and the shops and restaurants reflect that.  These locations are still within easy reach of the city and all it has to offer, while the road links provide good access to the M1 motorway and the regional and national markets beyond.”

James Hartley added:

“Protocol National is currently engaged in the fit out of its new space at The Point and once the work is finished we will have a busy, thriving business location.  We now have only two suites remaining, offering 2,185 sq ft and 2,939 sq ft respectively, and we already have encouraging levels of interest in them.”

Adam Youatt, real estate partner at the Nottingham office of national law firm Gateley, acted for the landlord in the letting.  He said:

“This is the latest letting that we have advised on at The Point.  With its prime location, excellent transport links and competitive rents, it has fast become an appealing space for business.  With limited premium office space available in the City, The Point offers an excellent alternative.”

Evidence is emerging that some businesses are considering locating outside Nottingham City Centre as a result of the introduction of the City’s Workplace Parking Levy, according to the Midlands property consultancy FHP.

It says that some companies who are currently looking at moving are examining options outside the zone covered by the levy, which was introduced in April partly to help pay for the extension of Nottingham’s tram network with two new lines to Clifton and Chilwell.  James Hartley, of FHP’s office and industrial team, says that though the City Centre retains significant appeal for certain occupiers, some small to medium-sized companies for whom a central location is not crucial are now looking at locations like West Bridgford, Wilford and Ruddington.

James Hartley commented:

“No business likes additional costs, and the unfortunate fact is that though the WPL was planned sometime ago it has come into force at the worst possible moment.  Trading conditions remain extremely tough, businesses have been struggling with rising raw material prices and economic confidence is low.  The last thing they want is an additional cost and a change in location is one way to avoid it.

We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the City Centre remains a very attractive location for all sorts of reasons, including, of course, its good transport links, and some businesses are in a position to grin and bear the levy.  However, there has been a clear trend in some recent inquiries that FHP has been handling for occupiers to ask about locations outside the City in places where rents are lower and there is no levy to pay.”

In the past few months, FHP has handled a number of inquiries where occupiers who could have taken space in the City have instead decided to move to locations like Bournston Development’s striking The Point office complex in West Bridgford and The Apex Business Park in Wilford.

James Hartley said:

“Since April, we have seen a surge of deals in locations outside the City.  At The Point in West Bridgford we have seen approximately 11,000 sq ft of office transactions complete, with one of the occupiers moving from Castle Marina where they would have been facing an occupation cost increase in the region of £10,000-£15,000 a year, a figure which is set to increase annually.

We are seeing this trend repeated in a number of offices we market.  At Apex Business Park in Wilford we have 9,330 sq ft and 3,700 sq ft of space on Wheatcroft Business Park ‘under offer’ both to occupiers moving out of the City Centre.  You can also look at schemes such as Bradmore Business Park in Bunny where there is strong interest in two of the units. This scheme has been completed but empty for a number of years and is now starting to see interest increase.”

Hartley says that the appeal of these sites goes beyond their position outside the WPL zone.  He believes the widening of the A46 and the prospect of major improvement to the A453 is making high-quality out-of-city locations more viable, with the strength of the retail and leisure offer in places like West Bridgford providing attractive support facilities.

He added:

“I don’t believe that the WPL will prevent major occupiers from moving into Nottingham provided all the other key criteria they look at are satisfied. The City’s economy has distinctive strengths which will always stand it in good stead and, WPL aside, I think businesses are broadly supportive of the tram.

That said, the evidence I have seen in the last few months tells me that some SME businesses who are looking at expanding or relocating feel that the WPL may be one cost too many in the current economic climate.  Some are specifically asking us to prioritise options outside the WPL zone.  Fortunately, we have been able to demonstrate that there are some very strong alternatives available to them which offer the kind of business environment they are happy with at more cost-effective levels.”

AN EAST Midlands business which specialises in leading-edge information technology solutions has made a £325,000 investment in expansion at Nottingham Business Park.

Air-IT, which provides outsourced IT support and managed services to companies across the region, has purchased a second unit at Ash Tree Court, the high-quality office park built by regional developer Wilson Bowden next to Junction 26 of the M1 motorway.

Though Air-IT was formed in only 2005 by Todd McQuilkin, it has seen rapid growth in demand for its customer-focused expertise, and has been looking to expand its operation for some time. In a deal secured by James Hartley, of the Nottingham property consultancy FHP, it has purchased 2,000 sq ft of adjoining office space at a site whose excellent transport links mean it has the region on its doorstep.

Air-IT will use the new space to extend its portfolio of tailored IT services, which range from increasingly popular ‘cloud’ computing and virtualisation solutions to IT installations and managed support. Its client base already includes a raft of respected businesses, including Skills Motor Coaches, Future Health Technologies, Eden Day Spa, RH Commercials and Price & Buckland.

Air-IT will use the first floor of the new property to expand its existing operations, with additional office space and a purpose-built technology suite where tailored training programmes can be delivered for customers. The move will allow the company’s Help Desk Department – a central feature of its service – to expand across the ground floor of the existing premises.

The 1,000 sq ft ground-floor of the new unit will be offered for rental as a fully-serviced office which combines a self-contained open plan environment with facilities which include leading edge IT infrastructure and telecommunications facilities, kitchen, toilet and dedicated parking.

Todd McQuilkin, Air-IT’s Managing director, commented: “We needed to expand our operations to meet the growing demands of our ever-increasing client base and required additional floor space to do so. We are delighted to acquire the neighbouring building, which means we can roll out our expansion plans seamlessly and continue to offer clients the best possible support and guidance with their business technology needs.”

Ash Tree Court adjoins the wider Nottingham Business Park development, which is home to a number of blue chip occupiers. It is less than a mile from Junction 26 of the M1 and close to the A610, which gives direct access to Nottingham city centre. Air-IT’s purchase of additional space at Ash Tree Court leaves only three units still available. James Hartley says there are sound reasons why the remaining space could be snapped up in the coming months.

He commented: “Air-IT is a smart business which operates in a dynamic environment where people look for tailored solutions. Ash Tree Court was clearly tailor-made for them, not least because of its excellent IT infrastructure and its proximity to the ring road and the M1, which means it is easy to serve customers in both Nottingham city centre and the wider East Midlands.

“Their decision to purchase the freehold of an additional unit is also a sign of the times, with increasing numbers of compact units aimed at owner occupiers being bought by businesses who see investment in a property asset as simple common sense in the current financial climate – with interest rates stuck at historic lows for the foreseeable future, the potential double-figure returns on a property will comfortably outstrip what their money might earn in a bank.”

James Hartley added: “It was particularly satisfying to conclude a deal based on the expansion of a young, dynamic business. It’s a testament to the quality of Ash Tree Court that Air-IT chose to stay and expand here when there were plenty of alternatives available. It’s also a tribute to the hard work of all the parties involved in the transaction – their commitment meant that once a price had been agreed and the legals instructed, it was only five weeks to completion.”

On behalf of Clowes Developments (UK) Limited FHP are delighted to announce the recent joint instruction of 99 Friar Gate, Derby. The prominent grade 2 listed former office head quarter building is located on Friar Gate one of Derby’s best known and popular office locations.

The property extends to 416m² (4,478ft²) and benefits from good parking facilities and provides an excellent opportunity for a business’s moving to Derby.

 For further information on this property or to make arrangements to view then please do not hesitate to contact George Dunnicliff on 01332 343222 or George@fhp.co.uk

Derby based Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd., have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence for their new 1,000,000 sf Distribution building at East Midlands Distribution Centre at Castle Donington.

The award, issued by BREEAM, sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and is recognized globally as the world’s foremost environmental assessment method of rating for buildings.

Paul Shanley, Director of Clowes commented …’ we worked closely with Marks & Spencer and our design and construction team to achieve this high standard of sustainability for this landmark building. EMDC is on the site of an old power station and we took advantage of breaking up and reusing the old massive concrete power station bases for fill material. Even the main building components are of a recyclable nature for the future.’….

Clowes have now completed and handed the building over to M&S who have embarked upon a major fit-out programme which is likely to continue for the rest of 2012.

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the letting of 14 Regent Street in the Professional Quarter of Nottingham City Centre to Wallwood Independent, a firm of independent financial advisors.

The building provides a 3,000 sq ft Grade II listed period office building with accommodation over 5 floors which was recently refurbished to a high standard and marks the twelfth transaction completed by FHP in as many months in Nottinghams professional quarter which shows a promising appetite for offices in this location. 

Mark Tomlinson, Surveyor at FHP Property Consultants commented:-

“This area has for many years been regarded as a prestigious location for office occupiers but in recent years we have seen an increase in the number of buildings coming onto the market, with many companies opting for business park premises on the edge of the city and the ‘Grade A’ office specifications they provide.”

“On the whole, the buildings in this location cannot provide quite that specification but given the correct refurbishment these buildings provide a quality working environment among many amenities such as Browns Brassiere, Harts Hotel, Cast Café and The Playhouse Theatre as well as being only a five minute walk from Nottingham’s retail centre.”

“We have seen a correction in rental values in the professional quarter which is making premises affordable to companies who perhaps only dreamed of offices in this area.”

For details of offices available in this area please contact Mark Tomlinson.

FHP have been instructed to bring to the market a ground floor self contained office suite in Visual Packaging’s Nottingham headquarters at Easter Park in Lenton Lane, Nottingham. 

The, principally open plan suite provides good quality self contained offices in close proximity to the QMC, Nottingham University and with good access to the A52 Ring Road. 

Details can be downloaded from www.fhp.co.uk with information available from either James Hartley or Mark Tomlinson at FHP’s Nottingham Office.

FHP have completed a very speedy letting of 7,600ft² at 30-34 Hounds Gate to Speedy Cash®.  This letting means that there is now only one suite left in the building measuring 3,700ft².  However there is expected to be a further 7,600ft² of space becoming available on the first floor in the building when Brown Jacobson move into their head offices later in the year. 

James Hartley of FHP property consultants commented: 

“Hounds Gate is an ideal location for any business to occupy as not only it is so close to all the City Centre amenities, it also offers high quality of space at affordable rents that include parking. 

The landlord, Catalyst, carried out a full refurbishment of the space that finished in late August and it is testament to the quality of this work that we had a deal completed before March.  This deal means that Speedy Cash® are picking up exceptionally high quality space at an affordable price.  This is a trend we are seeing in the market at the moment with the higher quality refurbished space being taken on and gaining much better interest than that of its direct competition that has not had refurbishment work carried out. 

Sarah Cooper of Catalyst, the landlord further commented: 

It took some convincing to carry out the refurbishment works in a tough market and without any guaranteed interest.  It was a bit of a leap of faith if I am being honest but it has definitely reaped its rewards in this instance.  We are pleased to welcome Speedy Cash® to our building and looking at their business plan we are confident that we are attracting a high calibre of tenant who is on the up and expanding its operations in the UK.

Not every family has a country estate with a mansion dating back to the 12th century and 15,000 acres, but at Welbeck Abbey, huge thought and resources have gone into creating a sustainable estate fit for the 21st century.

William Parente, a former film producer, and his wife, Alison, have taken on the challenges of maintaining Welbeck Abbey, traditionally the home of the Dukes of Portland, on the death of Parente’s aunt, Lady Anne Cavendish-Bentinck.  The philosophy for the future of the estate is built on four “pillars”.

Gradually, a new sustainable community is emerging, restoring many of the estate buildings put up by the fifth duke who, over 20 years, had a passion for construction.  Until 2005, Welbeck Abbey was home to the Army’s Sixth Form College but they moved out allowing the Parente family to reoccupy the abbey.

The last Duke of Portland built a smaller home in the grounds – Welbeck Woodhouse – where Lady Anne lived until her death in 2008, aged 92.  Sometime before, the family had established what it calls the Four Pillars, the guiding principles and philosophy for the future of Welbeck Abbey.

Unlike National Trust properties or the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth, Welbeck is not out to attract tourists to the house.  It wants to bring people to the estate to share a philosophy and sense of purpose.

Rob Mayo, a Chartered Surveyor with a degree in the history of art, was recruited as development director to take some of the projects forward.

Rob commented:-

“I was given quite a lengthy brief which, in a nutshell, was to bring the Welbeck project into being.  It is about creating a sustainable community based on the four pillars: creative business, the arts, rural diversification and education.  It is about trying to find new uses for our buildings, but not just any old use, and particularly focused on creative business and education.  Rural diversification gives a fair amount of flexibility – businesses related to food, food production, artisan foods.”

Today, it includes a school to learn how to make and bake traditional breads. There is a cheese-making school and, more recently, a brewery. A butchery course teaches how to butcher beef, pork and lamb and a new school could be set up soon to teach how to cure meat.  While Mrs Parente is particularly interested in traditional artisan foods, her husband is passionate about the arts and creative businesses.  He once wrote an arts column for the Scotsman.

Mr Mayo was involved in the £15 million restoration of Piece Hall, in Halifax, where he was project manager. His responsibility now is finding new uses for and converting historic buildings on the estate with up to 175,000 sq ft, one of the so-called Welbeck Pillars.  They are made up of hen houses, courtyard buildings, ancillary building and lodges on the estate.

Carriage Court has become 9,200 sq ft of very comfortable serviced office space divided up into small units of 162 sq ft upwards to 2,200 sq ft.  The high standard of work was carried out with flair by Susan Amaku, of Woodhall Planning and Conservation, in Leeds, architects and conservation specialists.  Prices start at £12 a sq ft with service charges on top.

The Lower Motor Yard has been skillfully converted into the School of Artisan Food.  Cavendish House was built as the science laboratories for the school in the 1960s. The restoration is again a high standard, attractive and with style.  The fourth floor contains the offices for managing the Welbeck Estate and the ground floor contains five serviced offices totalling 2,200 sq ft available to let.

Nearby is a 800 kilowatt biomass boiler for heating Welbeck Abbey and part of the estate, thought to be the largest in private hands in the country.  The £1 million installation burns 25 tonnes of wood chip a week, all coming from the estate.  Welbeck Estate has taken a different route from other country houses, it is about attracting visitors a gem of an estate, to sense the history of generations of the Portland and Cavendish- Bentinck family.

The Parentes want people to share in a common vision coming to Welbeck; to learn to make artisan bread, become cheese-makers, attend courses on curing meats, butchering meat and making sausages.  It is a very different kind of “tourism” which is about buying into and sharing an ethos.

“Visitors come to the estate with the settled purpose of doing something, to do a workshop, to have lunch or go to the farm shop.” 

“One thing it is not is a rural business park. While business is an important part of what goes on here, it is only one aspect. The bigger picture is more than that, it is about being a sustainable community.  We have our own food, water supply and sewerage system. Welbeck is quite self contained.”

Welbeck Abbey Brewery is managed by brewer Claire Monk, a microbiologist, in Lower Motor Yard.  A joint venture between Welbeck Estates and Kelham Island Brewery, it is already supplying 70 pubs with cask and bottled beers such as Portland Black, Cavendish and Red Feather.  The adjoining units will be converted for use by food producers in a renamed Brewery Yard. There are still several architecturally important listed buildings on the estate looking for a purpose. 

A very posh hen house, a palace for chickens with its own grassed courtyard guarded by railings to keep our marauding foxes, awaits inspiration. One idea is that it could become a crèche, assuming there are enough young families nearby.

That may be some way away because the priority is creating commercial accommodation which will pay its way, about 20,000 sq feet has been created or restored so far, and there is no defined timescale for the restoration of the remaining accommodation, more than 150,000sq ft. 

A Harley endowment supports the gallery and workshops,  the gallery offers a glimpse of the very private world of Welbeck, its pictures and the tastes of the occupiers, who continue to buy art.

For Laura West, letting properties on a ducal estate is a break from the norm.  Listed buildings that have a history are unusual in her book, but as a chartered surveyor, she has found the project totally absorbing.

Laura West of FHP Property Consultants commented:-

“I just love the whole estate, it is a magical location allows time for reflection.   I think businesses are attracted to the location, the address and the prospect of buying into the estate’s Four Pillar philosophy.  You are buying into the address, the lifestyle and the facilities that come with it such as the Welbeck Sailing Club.

Facilities include potential membership of the sailing club. Members sail their dinghies on the Great Lake.  The investment in converting Carriage Court into offices is huge and to the highest sympathetic standard.  When I take people round, they are bowled over by the design and quality.”

“Although remote, it is only 15 minutes or so from the M1 and less from the A57.  High-speed internet connections have been introduced to the estate which is particularly attractive to creative businesses.”

When the distinguished architectural historian, Nicholas Pevsner,  wrote  his Buildings of England book on Notts in 1951, he gave little hope for the future of Welbeck Abbey in private hands.  The Duke had built a modern house for himself in the grounds, Welbeck Woodhouse.

Sir Nicholas wrote:-

“The  building history of Welbeck Abbey  in a mood sadly characteristic of the C20.”

The current Duke, he wrote, had moved to a house  “no larger than a wealthy suburban villa near am industrial town”. And he posed the question of what would happen to Welbeck when the army school left.

“Will a public use be found: Electricity Board Coal Board, Lunatic Asylum,  Convent, School. Sanitorium,  Museum. The question is one of importance  far beyond the individual case of Welbeck.”

The revision of the book by Elizabeth Williamson in 1979 omitted the last paragragh. Pevsner, were he alive today, would undoubtedly  be excited by  the current  Welbeck philosophy.

For further information or to arrange an appointment to view the offices at Carriage Court please contact Laura West on 07917 460029. 

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the letting of Enfield House on Low Pavement in the heart of Nottingham City Centre to law firm Challinors Solicitors. Challinors has relocated from its previous base in Colwick to set up its new East Midlands headquarters in the city.

Sarah Pottle, head of Challinors in Nottingham and the East Midlands, said:-

“Enfield House is a perfect location for the firm’s 25 staff in Nottingham. Being based in the City Centre places our full range of legal services in one key location, which makes our team accessible to our corporate and private clients and fits with our marketing position as one of the largest general legal practices in the Midlands.”

Andy Hodges, Challinors’ Chief Executive commented:-

“The Nottingham City Centre location has been carefully selected to ensure Challinors corporate and private client’s legal specialists are accessible and at the heart of Nottingham’s thriving and bustling commercial centre. Enfield House is ideally located for both business and private clients and the central location, space and public transport links make it an attractive location for our team.”

Mark Tomlinson, Surveyor at FHP who agreed the letting on behalf of the landlord commented:-

“The property had undergone an extensive refurbishment programme at the same time as the redevelopment of the residential accommodation to the rear of the property. This property is located in one of Nottingham’s prime retail pitches and Challinors will undoubtedly benefit from this prominent position. This letting follows a number of City Centre office moves by professional firms and I am delighted that there are some positive stories in the market with firms looking to build in spite of ongoing market conditions.“

HIGH quality office space in an historic city centre landmark has been re-launched to the market by Nottingham property consultancy FHP.  Surveyor James Hartley is handling the marketing of four floors in The Pearl – the new name for Pearl House, the distinctive 1960s office block which stands tall over Nottingham’s Market Square.

The building space has been comprehensively refurbished by the building’s landlord, Development Securities, with each floor comprises around 3,700 sq ft of high-quality office space which blends professional appeal with a central location. James Hartley says the space should appeal to a wide variety of potential users, who would be moving into a building which has historically hosted tenants such as law firms, financial services organisations, and the regional operations of regulatory bodies and charitable organisations.

He commented: “Pearl House is a landmark for all sorts of reasons. It has become a part of the city’s landscape, has been home to an impressive number of high-profile businesses and a great contributor to the city’s economy over the years.  The 1960s isn’t remembered fondly for its buildings, but The Pearl is an exception. It was an architectural landmark when it was constructed and it remains appealing to this day. It was also a pretty visionary development – even though it was constructed more than 40 years ago, it continues to be a brilliant location for business. It is close to the city centre and all its facilities and only yards from Nottingham’s tram network.

“When you consider all the investment which is taking place in Nottingham, with the extension of the tram network, the development of a transport hub at the railway station, the enterprise zone and the widening of the A453, what you have here is a really well-placed location for business.”

Though The Pearl’s basic structure dates back to the 1960s it has been brought up to date by its current landlord, Development Securities, one of the UK’s leading property developers and investors.

James Hartley said: “This is a great example of astute, well-managed property investment in action, with a landlord who is doing everything right. Development Securities took the building on a couple of years ago when it was, perhaps, just beginning to lose some of its lustre. They have since engaged in a high-quality refurbishment exercise which has left the building looking fantastic. It now exudes exactly the kind of discreet quality that I believe professional occupiers are looking for.

“The refurbishment has seen the space completely refitted and its offers facilities and infrastructure which would suit established professional organisations and those who are perhaps looking to take the next step-up in terms of location but in an affordable manner.

“It is open plan space which allows people to interact, and investment in upgrading The Pearl’s reception area means visitors are given a high-quality experience form the moment they enter the building. Put simply, Development Securities have transformed a building which might have seemed sterile and institutionalised into something that is both inspiring and appealing. It is a model of wise investment.”

James Hartley says that Nottingham is suffering from a shortage of high-quality office space at the moment, with no new build coming on to the market in the immediate future and the amount of viable second hand stock dwindling. He concluded: “The Pearl has never lost its appeal as a business location, and with refurbished space I think it is in a very strong position to attract interest from occupiers looking for space which is ready to be occupied.”

Acting on behalf of a retained client FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the recent letting of 3 Prospect Place, Pride Park to Games Warehouse.  The two storey office premises extending to 4,321ft² has been let by way of a new ten year full repairing and insuring lease. 

Games Warehouse, an international company is the UK’s number one developer and manufacturer of play to play skill with prized products.  Games Warehouse is the leading multi game touch screen terminal range for pubs, bars and other locations and has also entered the category C and B3/B4 digital gaming centres with the stunning evolution terminal.  Evolution delivers a multiple choice, upgradeable games menu offering a variety of flexibility to both operators and players. 

Bernard Taylor, Director of Games Warehouse commented:

“We are extremely pleased to have moved into our new premises on Pride Park.  I would like to thank George and the team at FHP who have handled this deal professionally and expeditiously”

George Dunnicliff of FHP Property Consultants commented:

“It shows great signs for the City to secure the letting to Games Warehouse and see an international firm move into Derby.  I wish Bernard and his team at Games Warehouse the best of luck for the future in their new premises”

For further information on this letting or if you would like to speak with one of our office/industrial team please contact George Dunnicliff.

Pictured George Dunnicliff of FHP and Bernard Taylor of Games Warehouse.

Acting on behalf of Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce the recent letting to Derwent Water Systems at Key Point Office Village in Alfreton.

Derwent Water Systems have taken the offices, extending to 1,359ft² on a full repairing and insuring lease for a term of three years.

Derwent Water Services is a leading manufacturer and supplier of quality water treatment plant, ranging from basic water softeners and reverse osmosis equipment to customer specified complex water treatment solutions.

 Scott Harper of Clowes Developments (UK) Limited commented:-

“We are extremely pleased to secure a further letting at Key Point. This is good news for the estate and Derwent Water Systems will be an excellent new addition”

George Dunnicliff of FHP Property Consultants commented:-

“This is the second letting we have achieved in the last week on this estate further to the letting to Images Publishing Limited which is an excellent result for this office scheme. We are very pleased to get these lettings over the line and look forward to onward success.  We wish both Derwent Water and Images Publishing the very best of luck for the future.”

For further information on this letting or to discuss opportunities on this estate please contact George Dunnicliff in our office/industrial team.

Pictured left to right:  George Dunnicliff (FHP Property Consultants), Richard Thorneycroft (Derwent Water), Scott Harper (Clowes Developments).

THE ENGINEERING and environmental consultancy BWB has made Nottingham its flagship presence in the East Midlands with a move into a prestige office complex in the Southside professional quarter.

The firm, which has been a key player in the construction of a series of commercial landmarks, has taken the fifth floor at Waterfront House, the Grade A office complex which forms part of Waterfront Plaza, the mixed use scheme built by the Northern Ireland developer McAleer & Rushe. They leased the 8,650 sq ft suite in a deal secured for them by John Proctor, of the Nottingham property consultancy FHP, and James Hall, of Geo Hallam & Sons, who acted for the landlord, law firm Shoosmiths.

BWB has been in business 21 years and is now the largest privately-owned integrated engineering and environmental consultancy in the East Midlands. It has a 90-strong team working at Waterfront Plaza, one of a network of offices which also takes in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. In total, the £10.5m-turnover business employs 140 people. They deliver a range of integrated engineering services centred around the built environment, transportation and infrastructure, and environmental sectors.

Steve Wooler, the Managing Director of BWB Consulting, said: “The past few years have been a period of great change for the industry, but BWB Consulting has come out of it in a strong position and ready to expand. We went through a management buy-out in 2008, we have completed a successful refinancing, and the move from our old home in the Lace Market into a state-of-the-art environment in Nottingham’s emerging professional district makes a bold statement about our ambitions.

“We have a talented team which understands the complexities of development all the way from drawing board to handover, and we have invested in a professional environment which will help us to deliver what we believe is a large company capability with a small company service ethic.”

BWB Consulting has been a key partner in a series of landmark projects locally, regionally and nationally – among them a new training ground scheme for Premiership giants Manchester City. It was part of the team behind The Cornerhouse and Trinity Square in Nottingham, The Roundhouse in Derby, the School of Law & Business at De Montfort University, and the £150m Trinity Walk development in Wakefield.

“We are in a market where we compete with both national and international businesses and we have demonstrated over the years an approach which has earned BWB considerable respect,” said Mr Wooler. “But this is a challenging climate and no one can afford to rest on their laurels. We have got some exciting growth targets for the business both at home and abroad, but the one thing that won’t change is our commitment to delivering real value for our clients.”

He added: “Our move into Waterfront House is all about supporting our long-term ambitions. It offers us not only the right kind of office environment, but a location which puts us in the best position to make the most of the upcoming investment in Nottingham’s transport infrastructure. Nottingham City Council’s decision to move to Loxley House put some real momentum into the Southside as a professional quarter, and the expansion of the railway station and tram will make it easier for both staff and clients to take advantage of one of the most integrated transport systems in the country.”

BWB Consulting joins a raft of professional names in Waterfront House, including corporate law firm Shoosmiths, the expanding financial services business Ikano and the customer logistics division of Coca Cola Enterprises – the exclusive licensee for The Coca Cola Company’s beverages in Britain, parts of mainland Europe and Scandinavia.

FHP director John Proctor acted for BWB Consulting in the letting of the fifth floor at Waterfront House. He says the building provides an almost ideal location for a professional services business, with excellent facilities combining with a well-connected position.

John Proctor commented: “Southside is becoming established as Nottingham’s central business district, and the presence of major professional names like BWB in Waterfront House is a testament to its long-term logic as a commercial location. It is within walking distance of Nottingham city centre, alongside the railway station with its connections to London, and the expansion of the tram means that it will be directly linked to the ng2 Business Park and beyond within only a few years.

“BWB Consulting is a widely-respected name in the construction and development industry. Waterfront House provides it with the kind of high-quality, open-plan environment which fits in with its ambitions to expand. As the economy picks up, I would expect many more businesses to want to take advantage of this kind of location, which bodes well for Southside’s future.”

Waterfront House comprises 75,000 sq ft of Grade A office space ranged over nine floors. It is part of McAleer & Rushe’s wider Waterfront Plaza scheme, which also features the 14-storey, 264 bedroom Jurys Inn Hotel, and The Atrium, where 107 apartments are ranged around an open, water-fronted square.

BWB Consulting has leased the fifth floor in Waterfront House from corporate law firm Shoosmiths, which has its regional headquarters in the building. Shoosmiths’ Partner Deborah Gordon Brown said: “We were among the first businesses to move into Waterfront House and it has been the perfect platform for us to serve clients and support our own culture. I’m delighted to welcome BWB to the building and I know it will help them to achieve their ambitions.”

Shoosmiths was advised in the deal by James Hall, of the Nottingham property agency Geo Hallam & Sons. He commented: “Besides the infrastructure investments in the tram and the railway station, a number of new commercial and leisure developments are planned for the Southside area. They reflect the fact that it is one of the best-placed business locations in Nottingham, and this was a key factor in BWB Consulting’s decision to locate here.”

FHP and Innes England have acted jointly in the sale of two more units on Poplars Court in Nottingham, driving the occupancy up to 75%. 

Driver Hire Ltd and The Nottingham Journal are the latest occupiers within the popular development. Commercial property agents Innes England and FHP acted jointly for the landlord Sladen Estates in the deals, which will see the companies take up a total of 3,200 sq ft in Units 1 and 15. 

Matt Sladen, from Sladen Estates, said:

“We would like to welcome The Nottingham Journal and Driver Hire Ltd to Poplars Court. The companies join an already impressive list of businesses which extends to IT consultants, graphic designers, accountants and mechanical & engineering consultants.

What’s been particularly alluring to these types of firms is the appeal of moving to high quality premises where they are able to have a say in the design of a bespoke layout to meet their requirements. This is managed and delivered by ourselves, and takes away one of the most time consuming aspects of any office move.”

FHP and Innes England have already disposed of nine other units at the popular location, and these two latest lettings mean that 75% of the offices are now occupied. Poplars Court is a strong indicator that there is still strong demand for well located, accessible and high specification offices in the city. 

The units at Poplars Court vary in size and offer a diverse range of companies the opportunity of having their own front doors and dedicated car parking. Businesses have also been attracted to the location, as it is within minutes of the city centre and the national road network and now that phase two of the NET has been confirmed, this is also an added bonus as it will stop closely to Poplars Court, furthering enhancing the transport links available to tenants. 

John Chambers of Driver Hire Ltd says: 

“Although Driver Hire Nottingham is a well established recruitment business within Nottingham, we have for some time been looking for suitable offices to allow us to create a much higher profile within the city. Poplars Court not only gives us a great visible location but also offers a high quality working environment for the staff along with great floor space for our Driver CPC training arm of the business.” 

James Hartley of FHP said: 

“With a lack of supply of freehold offices we have found a good level of demand in Poplars Court and this has been reflected in these two sales. The high quality fit out of the units combined with the developer’s ability to design and construct the bespoke layouts has proved extremely appealing. This coupled with the impending tram passing the site has meant that the small office scheme has attracted a number of owner occupiers to it.” 

For further information on offices at Poplars Court please liaise with James Hartley at FHP on 0115 8411148 or joint agents Scott Osborne at Innes England 0115 924 3243 or.

An upmarket office development located at Junction 28 of the M1 in Derbyshire which has the heart of the UK economy on its doorstep is being marketed jointly by East Midlands property consultancy FHP and Innes England.

The Courtyard, which now has seven units available, has been hailed as one of the best-placed professional locations in the Midlands, sitting on a junction where the key east-west and north-south road networks meet. Its modern, two-storey buildings have swift, easy access to the A38, M1 and A1, putting the three major cities of the East Midlands and the vast markets of the wider Midlands and South Yorkshire within easy reach. The site has extensive parking, CCTV security and a landscaped environment which the agents believe provides a professional environment suited to both national and regional businesses.

The Village site is already home to a mix of local and international enterprises and organisations, with Tarmac, Rowan Structures, and PPG Coatings alongside the Pub People Pub Company,  the staff absence insurance business Schools Advisory Services and the training and recruitment firm Positive Outcomes.

Very competitive deals are available on the units, which can be combined or occupied separately and have been finished to a high specification. They range in size from 1,406 sq ft to 2,438 sq ft and achieve high energy efficiency ratings

Laura West, who is marketing the units for FHP, said:-

“The Courtyard is going to suit a range of occupiers whether it is national companies looking for a regional base serving clients across the Midlands and the North, or local professional businesses who need a high-quality environment in a strategic location.

“In terms of location, I think you would struggle to find a development which is as well-connected as this. You are right on the A38, which offers east-west connections linking to either the A1 via the MARR route or across the heart of the Midlands market through Derby.

“On top of that, it is less than a mile from Junction 28 of the M1, which has just been widened to provide fast, easy access to markets in the south and the north. So as far as transport is concerned you have got every box ticked – it’s even within half-an-hour’s drive of East Midlands Airport.

“So there is a truly vast market within easy reach of The Courtyard, and it has got good facilities close by with both a pub restaurant and the Principal Hayley Derbyshire Hotel”.

Innes England director Craig Straw added:-

“It is a great location, but it is also a thoroughly professional environment which sends all the right signals about an occupier’s approach to business.

“This well-designed development should have a wide appeal to occupiers looking for a high-quality environment. This is reflected in both the finish of the units, which is both contemporary and practical, and in a gated, secure environment which is manned 24 hours.”

The area around Junction 28 has become an increasingly popular site for strategic investment because of the markets it puts within easy reach. Supermarket giant Co-operative Group is currently building a major distribution warehouse on the other side of the A38, while The Courtyard is also opposite the East Midlands Designer Outlet – a major regional retail destination.

The road network on the M1 has recently been the subject of major Government investment that has seen it widened to four lanes, improving traffic flows and helping to reduce delays.

Laura West concluded:-

“I think that when potential occupiers talk to us about terms they will quickly realise that The Courtyard represents a location which offers remarkable value – not just in terms of occupation costs, but in terms of the position it puts you in relative to a vast potential market.”

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce that they have secured the sale of 96 Friar Lane in Nottingham City Centre. 

James Hartley of FHP commented:

“I am delighted to have completed the sale of this office in such a quick fashion.  The sale has led to the expansion of a local occupier which is great news and the type of news we all want to hear in the current market.

The sale leaves us with the next door unit, 94 Friar Lane, which is a small freehold totalling 1,087ft² and is a great opportunity for another small business to or a City Centre office or retail unit.”

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to announce that they have successfully completed the letting of the ground floor suite within Birkbeck House on Phoenix Office Park to Sterling Home Care.

Sterling Home Care will take on a 5 year lease of the 2,280ft² suite and will take up occupation within four weeks of first viewing the property.  This is the third letting in as many months on Phoenix Park for FHP where they have disposed of over 14,000ft² of offices since September 2011.

James Hartley of FHP commented:

“We have seen extremely strong levels of interest in Phoenix Office Park over the last few months and this has lead to me disposing of over 14,000ft² of space since September 2011.  The lettings have not been easy and have required a very proactive approach from both ourselves and the landlords. 

We have worked exceptionally quickly to secure this letting which has allowed the tenants to gain a quick occupation.

In all three of the lettings that we have achieved adhering to short timescales was the key to obtaining a tenant.

The Birkbeck House letting is particularly pleasing given that we have been working for a charity and it is an investment that they hold so to improve its performance like this is fantastic news.”

Frank Ellis of the landlord commented:

“Our thanks go out to FHP for obtaining this tenant. They have been fantastic in dealing with this property. Not only have they let it for us but they also carry out the management on a day to day basis which means we are able to worry about the day to day running of our charity whilst FHP handle the property.

For a charity to invest its funds in a property like this could be seen as a risk but with the help and proactive management and letting advice offered by FHP it is currently proving a sound investment.”

Wincent Kordula of Sterling Home Care, the new tenant, further commented:

“Once we decided to move to the Park our only issue was timing as we had to move very quickly. FHP and the landlord were very proactive and worked alongside us in order to ensure that we were able to move in as quickly as possible. Not only is the quality of the space within the offices of a high quality but the location gives us great access not only to Nottingham City Centre but also to the motorway as well as the NET tram line.”

FHP Property Consultants are delighted to confirm that they have now completed the sale of Unit 15, Poplars Court to the Nottingham Journal.

Nottingham Journal moved into their new premises in January.  The sale of Unit 15 was exchanged a couple of months ago however to fit in with the timescales and fit out for Nottingham Journal the exchange was delayed.  The developers, Sladen Estates carried out the fit out of the individual meeting rooms within the space as part of the sale price and this enabled Nottingham Journal to take occupation and operate on day one of completion of the lease.

This is a service which has been offered at Poplars Court and given the small level of occupiers involved has been incredibly successful in attracting purchasers.  The work is done under warranty, ready on completion and has proved to be a popular addition to the sales package on site.

James Hartley of FHP commented:

“I am pleased to see this sale go through.  The quality of office space on offer at Poplars Court is extremely high and does seem to appeal to owner occupiers.  The starting specification of this suite is excellent and with the design and fit out service offered by the developers the finished product really does offer exceptional value for money.  We expect to see a few more deals completed in the near future.”