Press.
With nearly 20 years experience working with the Press, Red can put you and your business in the spotlight. From last minute advertising to lengthy Press articles, Red will cater to all your needs.
Halls Press Release- 01/02/2011
First letting at landmark city regeneration scheme
The first letting at the landmark The Waterside development in Worcester has been secured. Developed by Berkeley Group, the mixed use scheme is revitalising the former Royal Worcester Porcelain site which fronts the Worcester/ Birmingham canal and Diglis Basin area.
The letting to Open Logic (a partner of IBM which delivers IT solutions based on improved processes and systems) for 3,560 sq ft in Slip House was completed by joint agents Knight Frank and Halls Commercial. The historic building has been fully refurbished to offer 6,850 sq ft of Grade A, open-plan office accommodation set over two floors but as one of the scheme’s most striking buildings, Slip House was originally designed by Robert Armstrong in the 1850s and was where the “slip” – a clay mixture used to make porcelain pieces – was made.
Andrew Saunders-Davis, chairman of Berkeley Group, said: “We are committed to delivering a high quality scheme which not only breathes new life into this part of the city, but adds to Worcester’s overall offer as a vibrant and appealing place to live and work. This promise has already appealed to residential purchasers and now as we launch our commercial offer, it has the same appeal to office occupiers keen to be part of Worcester’s future.”
While many unusual period features have been retained, modern additions to Slip House include a new entrance pavilion and reception area which reflects the building’s character with cast stone detailing, as well as newly formed windows and a double-glazed roofing system which floods the entire building with natural light.
Paul Collins, technical director of Open Logic, said: “Identifying the “right” new office accommodation for our business has been of prime importance – we were looking for offices that would reflect our company ethos, motivate our staff and create the right impression for clients and peers. We viewed numerous properties but nothing came close to offering us such a spectacular base in terms of physical accommodation in combination with an exciting wider working environment.”
The Waterside is an eight acre site which is being redeveloped to provide high quality commercial, residential and leisure uses. Strategically located, the refurbished and new build properties benefit from good transport links including proximity to the M5 (via the A44) and wider regional motorway network and is in within walking distance of Worcester’s two mainline rail stations. Onsite amenities and development to the canal network mean that occupiers and residents also benefit from a first class environment in which to work and live.
Richard Tomlinson, Halls Commercial said, “As the regeneration of this site continues, we are currently experiencing increased levels of interest in the offices, which is undoubtedly the premium business space currently available in the City Centre. Several well known occupiers, who are currently based in secondary outdated offices are seeking to upgrade to Grade A space but within the confines of the City Centre.
Henry Harrison, Knight Frank, added: “This letting is a milestone for the wider Worcester Waterside project and marks a new phase in the scheme’s lifecycle. Open Logic’s reasons for relocating their regional headquarters to The Waterside demonstrate the requirement for high quality office accommodation in Worcester and underline occupier confidence in the M5 corridor as an excellent place to locate and do business.”
On completion of the phased development programme, there will be approximately 65,000 sq ft of office accommodation at The Waterside creating a vibrant professional setting, while there is circa 3,000 sq ft of Grade A accommodation available at Slip House for immediate occupation. For more information, please visit www.thewatersidecommercial.co.uk