A PLANNED 99,000 sq ft office building in Slough has taken a step forward after a new funding package was announced.

Developer U+I has announced that real estate investment advisor Ashby Capital has agreed to fund the scheme at 2 Brunel Place.

The office building will be the first of three striking properties at the currently-derelict Brunel Place site in Slough town centre where 350,000 sq ft of new office space should eventually be delivered.

Peter Ferrari, Chief Executive of AshbyCapital, said:

“Slough is an established destination for businesses with major occupiers including O2, LG, HTC, McAfee, Fiat, Honda, Reckitt Benckiser, Akzo Nobel, Mars and Black & Decker. As such, with the arrival of Crossrail in 2018 it will be the first major office centre outside Central London on the line.

“Increased demand for high-quality buildings in good value locations with fast access to central London is already improving the popularity of Slough, and this will be helped further by the arrival of Crossrail and an extensive regeneration programme that is transforming the town centre. Brunel Place is a first-rate building in a prime location and will benefit from these changing market dynamics.”

Ruth Bagley, Chief Executive of Slough Borough Council, commented: “We welcome the start of work on site and look forward to seeing the building finished and occupied.”

It is expected that 2 Brunel Place will be completed in 2018.

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