A SERVICED office business centre in Newcastle-Under-Lyme has announced a major new expansion.
The office centre at Copthall House on King Street is taking over additional floors in the building, making desk space available for a further 100 people.
Citibase’s expansion – the fourth in a year – means the business centre can now accommodate 325 people.
Citibase’s Marketing Director, Alasdair Farrimond commented: “Our fourth expansion in little over a year since we welcomed our first customers, is a testament to how popular our hassle-free work space has proved to be.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer over 100 more businesses affordable and flexible offices without them being tied down to long term contracts. We take away all the hassle of running their office needs, leaving them to focus on what’s really important – running and growing their business and boosting Newcastle-under-Lyme’s economy in the process.”
ONE of London’s most distinctive office buildings has sold for a record-breaking price.
The Walkie Talkie skyscraper has been acquired from joint developers Land Securities and Canary Wharf Group by the property arm of Hong Kong-based Lee Kum Kee Health Products Group.
The sale price for the building, officially addressed as 20 Fenchurch Street, is the largest amount ever paid for a single building in the UK.
Robert Noel, Chief Executive of Landsec – the new brand name for Land Securities – said: “Our decision to sell 20 Fenchurch Street at an exceptional price and return cash to shareholders reflects our disciplined approach to the use of capital.
The building has been an immensely successful project for Landsec and our partners. Its development in 2010 was part of Landsec’s major speculative development programme in the capital, which has seen the completion of 3.1 million sq ft of office and retail space, thousands of jobs sustained in the construction industry, and considerable improvements to public spaces. This sale crystallises the significant value we have created at 20 Fenchurch Street.”
The 37 storey building, designed by Rafael Viñoly, includes a “Sky Garden” at the top and famously made headlines when the heat from reflected sun rays caused damage at street level.
In 2015, 20 Fenchurch Street was awarded the Carbuncle Cup for being the ugliest new building that year.
89% of available space at British Land’s 4 Kingdom Street at Paddington Central is now let or under offer following the developer’s most recent signing.
Software developer Finastra has signed a 10 year lease for the first, second and third floors at the property which was completed in April and is the first building to be developed by British Land at the 11 acre Paddington Central campus.
The letting totals 42,400 sq ft of space for Finastra, which was formed by the combination of Misys and D+H, and which counts 48 of the world’s 50 largest banks as clients for its software developed for financial institutions.
4 Kingdom Street boasts a glass pod on every floor and a roof terrace with a cafe, outdoor seating and London’s highest basketball court.
Tim Roberts, Head of Offices and Residential at British Land, said: “It is a tremendous achievement to be 89 per cent let or under offer as we formally present the space to market.
“The commitment from Finastra and strength of interest in the other floors is an endorsement of our decision to re-configure the building to deliver greater flexibility, more collaborative spaces and a truly unique roof space, along with the substantial improvements we’ve made to the campus environment.
“We believe the delivery of 4 Kingdom Street is well-timed given the lack of supply in the West End market, and the arrival of Crossrail at Paddington in 2018, and hope to announce further occupier commitments in the near future.”
Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE are the joint agents on 4 Kingdom Street. CBRE advised Finastra.
DEVELOPERS British Land have launched a new workspace brand called Storey providing flexible offices for companies employing between 20 and 70 people.
Storey will operate within the company’s existing London portfolio of campuses at Broadgate, Paddington Central and Regent’s Place.
Aimed at growing businesses and large firms that require additional space, Storey will allow clients to have branded workspace within a modern campus environment where there’s a focus on wellbeing that supports growth and productivity.
Storey’s tenants will be able to benefit from simple, jargon-free leases, secure, fully backed-up WiFi, reception service, cleaning and maintenance and office furniture. Storey will offer shared facilities including showers, bike racks, shared kitchen areas and meeting and collaboration space.
Chris Grigg, Chief Executive, British Land, said: “British Land concentrates on three core principles: understanding our customers so we can respond to their needs; creating great environments both within our buildings and their broader environments; and using our scale, expertise and long-term outlook to deliver value across our portfolio.
“Not only does the combination of these differentiate us, it also led us to develop Storey for a different customer base. By understanding the needs of ambitious SMEs and project teams, providing the right space for them and removing the hassle of running an office, it allows them to focus on their own businesses.
”We have the benefit of owning the buildings in which Storey will operate giving us much greater control of the service and experience customers receive, such as the quality of the technology and continuity of the Wi-Fi, one of the top frustrations identified in our research.”
THE SECOND tallest building in the City of London has been sold for £1.15 billion.
Contracts have been exchanged between joint developers British Land and Oxford Properties and purchaser CC Land for the sale of the 46-storey Leadenhall Building.
Tim Roberts, Head of Offices and Residential, British Land, said: “British Land and Oxford Properties took a bold step at the early stages of the UK’s economic recovery to develop The Leadenhall Building to generate a high quality, long term income stream. It’s a decision which has really paid off. Through a strong, collaborative partnership, we have delivered an iconic, award-winning building let to high calibre occupiers at record City rents. This sale shows continued investor appetite for best in class, well located property in London.”
The 736-feet tall skyscraper, which provides 610,000 sq ft of office space, is often referred to as the Cheesegrater because of its striking, sloping design. The three-year construction of the tower was completed in 2014 and it has attracted tenants including insurers Aon and MS Amlin.
The sale still needs final approval from the shareholders of Hong Kong-based C C Land which has an existing development portfolio mainly in Western China.
A “rooftopping” video has appeared online showing a daredevil gaining access to the iconic One Canada Square office building in Canary Wharf.
The YouTube video appears to show Harry Gallagher, also known as Night Scape, get past security gates in the skyscraper before taking a lift to an upper floor and then using the stairwell to get on to the roof.
Supporting himself one just hand, Gallagher appears in the vertigo-inducing video on the famous pyramid atop the 230 metre tall building.
The act of “hacking” a building to gain access to its roof space has become known as rooftopping.
A Canary Wharf Group spokesperson is reported to have commented: “We are actively investigating unauthorised entry into One Canada Square, on the Canary Wharf Estate.
“Current arrangements have been tightened, while our security procedures are being reviewed and an internal investigation conducted.
“We are working closely with the Metropolitan Police on this matter. Our priority is to ensure the safety of our tenants, employees and those visiting the Estate.”
One Canada Square at Canary Wharf is the second highest tallest building the country.
MCKINSEY & Co are to move their London headquarters from St James’s to a newly-refurbished former Royal Mail Sorting Office near Holborn .
The global consulting firm has announced it has pre-let space at the The Post Building, due for completion in 2018, on the corner of Museum Street and New Oxford Street.
A deal for 100,000 sq ft of office space has been signed with the option for a further 130,000 sq ft.
McKinsey’s UK and Ireland Managing Partner Vivian Hunt commented, “The Post Building gives us the flexible and modern office space we need for our growing operations.”
Built in the 1960s, the sorting office is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and extension with the finished mixed-use scheme offering 230,000 sq ft of office space and 37,000 sq ft of retail and restaurants.
SERVICED office provider Orega has announced it will be opening its first business centre in Scotland this summer.
The company will be taking a 26,000 sq ft space in the Silver Fin building in Aberdeen and transforming it into serviced offices.
The Silver Fin building is a Grade A office property in Union Street in Aberdeen’s West End designed by Cooper Cromar.
Orega’s move north of the border follows their most recent launch in Canary Wharf and adds to an existing portfolio which includes London, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Gatwick and Brussels.
Jeremy Hampton, Commercial Director of Orega, commented:
“We are extremely proud of Orega’s first venture in Scotland with the upcoming launch of Orega Aberdeen. The flexible workspace in the beautiful Silver Fin building will offer our clients a vibrant working atmosphere.”
TOP dentists are worried that the workplace is now the main place where people consume sugary goods and have warned against a “cake culture.”
They say that the cake culture is increasingly being used by managers to reward staff, as well as colleagues celebrating special occasions and workers bring back gifts from their holidays.
The Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons has issued its five top tips to encourage workers to resist sweet treats in the office.
1. Consider low sugar alternatives: Colleagues appreciate it when someone takes the time to buy treats for the team. But rather than always buying sugary goods like biscuits and sweets, consider substituting them for low sugar alternatives.
2. Reduce portion sizes: Think about reducing portion sizes – choose the small bag rather than the big one.
3. Avoid snacking and keep sugar as a lunchtime treat: If someone does bring cake or sweets to the office, avoid snacking throughout the day and only consume sugary goods at lunchtime. Not only does this help reduce your overall sugar intake, it’s also much better for teeth.
4. Develop a sugar schedule to help limit your team’s sugar intake: There may be times when cake keeps appearing in the office, as birthdays or other events seem to be happening almost every day. One way to limit sugar consumption at such times is to organise a sugar schedule. For example, if there are birthdays on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, arrange to have cake at Friday lunchtime to celebrate all three, rather than on each individual day.
5. Location, location, location – think carefully about where cake and sugar is positioned: Research suggests that people will eat more sweets if they are nearby and visible than if they are placed further away. Therefore, think about where sugary products are positioned in the office and put them out of eyesight.
Professor Nigel Hunt, Dean of the FDS says:
“The idea of a cake culture in workplaces really seemed to strike a chord when the Faculty first raised it as an issue earlier this year. We all recognise it. Managers want to reward staff for their efforts, colleagues want to celebrate special occasions and workers want to bring back a gift from their holidays. While these sweet treats might be well meaning, they are also contributing to the current obesity epidemic and poor oral health.
“We need a culture change in offices and other workplaces that encourages healthy eating and helps workers avoid caving in to sweet temptations such as cakes, sweets and biscuits. With this in mind, the Faculty has developed simple tips for workers and employers to help them cut back on sugar in the workplace. Make combatting cake culture in your workplace one of your New Year’s resolutions for a healthier 2017.”
The FDS have cited Google as a positive case study where sweets were placed made less visible in opaque containers which resulted in 3.1 million fewer calories being consumed over 7 weeks by the tech giant’s New York exmployees.
AN OFFICE and retail building in the City of London which was designed by James Stirling and completed five years after his death has been awarded a Grade II* listing.
Built in 1997, No 1 Poultry has been become the youngest building in the national register of listed buildings.
The designation for the property, which also includes an entrance to Bank underground station, comes almost a year after the Department for Culture, Media & Sport first turned down Historic England’s recommendation for listed building status.
But following a legal challenge by the Twentieth Century Society, the government reviewed the decision and the building entered the register of listing properties yesterday.
The landmark building at the corner of Poultry and Queen Victoria Street contains five floors of office space as well as retail units and a rooftop restaurant.
