Eight of the eleven Grade A self-contained offices at Buckminster in north-east Leicestershire, have been let off-plan to its first two tenants.
Specialist magazine publisher BPG has taken six units totalling 3935 sq ft on a ten-year lease, whilst Watchorn Financial Services has taken two units totalling 850 sq ft.
The refurbishment project of Buckminster Yard, a 19th Century former workshop on the Buckminster Estate, is on schedule for its target completion date of mid-March 2012, when Watchorn Financial Services will move in as first tenants on-site. BPG plans to commence occupancy from mid-May.
A key feature of Buckminster Yard’s development is its fibre-optic broadband, with speeds of up to 100MB, a first for the area and which will also be supplied to the local community. The development also has parking for over forty cars and provision for cyclists with covered spaces available.
Buckminster Yard is five minutes drive from the A1 and within easy reach of Melton Mowbray, Grantham, Stamford, Oakham, Nottingham, Leicester, Peterborough, York, London and the rest of the UK, as well as East Midlands and Stansted Airports, and national and regional train links from Grantham, with trains to London taking just seventy-five minutes.
Each unit guarantees low carbon usage through the specification of advanced insulation, rainwater harvesting, bright-light natural lighting and bio-mass heating. With an EPC average A rating, Buckminster Yard is fully Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant, with its own kitchen and WC.
Buckminster’s Property Manager Stuart Coleman comments: “Securing two tenants leasing a combined eight of the eleven units on Buckminster Yard several weeks ahead of completion, is testament to the high quality and standards of the development. Buckminster Yard has been designed to provide the perfect modern working environment and location for businesses, within a rural location that is within easy access to national transport links.
“The three units currently still available total 1484 sq ft. They are adjacent to each other within the single story ‘Studio’ and could be let as one single unit. Now is the perfect time for anyone interested in leasing the units, on our easy-in, easy-out all-inclusive terms from just £15 per sq ft, as we can alter or adjust the layout to suit their individual usage and accommodation needs whilst builders are still on site.”
BPG, which includes Your Cat, Your Dog and Fieldsports amongst its portfolio of specialist publications and websites, is relocating to Buckminster Yard from its current base in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Its Chairman Mike Barnes, explains: “The lease on our current premises is due to expire in June and Buckminster Yard is a very tasteful eco-friendly conversion, with the perfect amount of open plan space to meet our requirements. It is also situated just five minutes from the A1. Buckminster Estate has been very accommodating and is to be congratulated on the entire concept and its execution. We are very excited about the move.”
Watchorn Financial Services is currently based at Stoke Rochford and offers independent financial advice, particularly investment and retirement planning. Jon Watchorn comments: “Buckminster combines the very best of city centre facilities within a rural location. Travel links and infrastructure are excellent, the development boasts extensive on-site car parking, which, combined with the 100MB broadband, make Buckminster the ideal location. It features excellent, high quality prestigious offices, without the hassle and costs of a city centre position.”
Buckminster Yard offers ‘easy-in, easy-out’ fixed, all-inclusive, tenant-friendly terms, which include rent, service charge, heating, power and all the usual ‘extras’ that are normally charged on top of the rent. Each unit has its own front door, and is pre-wired with ‘plug and play’ internet and telecommunications facilities.
The Buckminster Yard project has been supported through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union.
Stuart Coleman adds: “Buckminster Yard has been conceived as part of the Buckminster Estate’s long term programme to ensure the vibrancy and on-going sustainability of the local area and Buckminster village. Based at its heart, Buckminster Yard tenants can take full advantage of local amenities, including the Tollemache Arms public house that serves excellent food, and the village shop. There is also the Estate Shoot Lodge and new village hall, which can accommodate larger meetings and seminars.”
