A £2 million refurbishment of Middlemarch Business Park in Coventry, has prompted Baldwins Accountants, one of the UK’s fastest expanding accountancy firms, to sign up to 8,562 sq ft .
Baldwins are relocating from two offices in Coventry to the more efficient and modern Grade A offices being delivered by Evenacre, which acquired the park in a joint venture with Bridges Ventures, a sustainable and impact investor, for £7.55m in February of last year.
The offices include what Evenacre’s managing director, Paul Jones describes as a ground-breaking design for the Midlands, offering a more edgy, contemporary feel with exposed ceiling and services and design details more reminiscent of a creative studio.
“We’ve always been about the design and detail on our schemes and we wanted to do something different at Middlemarch,” says Jones. “To attract the top talent to the region, occupiers are looking for offices which help set themselves apart from their competitors and demonstrate they are thinking about their people, working environment and the wider world too.
‘In keeping with Bridges’ ethos, we looked to incorporate a number of sustainable features in the new-look offices and business park. This includes the most thermal efficient air conditioning units on the market and a new amenity offering, which will see independent coffee house, Java Lounge open its doors on the park later this month. We’ve also addressed the flow, landscaping and branding of the site.
Jones continued: “Added to these improvements, there has been massive investment in the surrounding infrastructure with the £106 million upgrade of the Toll End junction, which has created real impact and we now have dual carriageway links to the M40, M6 and M42, so in terms of connectivity we are right at the heart of the Midlands’ road network.”
Richard Clayton, director at Baldwins’ new office on Middlemarch Business Park added: “These state-of-the-art offices are perfectly suited for Baldwins as the business looks to develop and grow beyond the 2,000 clients we already have in the area.
“A lot of our clients’ demands are changing as they grow themselves, so this move into more spacious and modern offices is vital to ensuring we can adapt and work even more efficiently by offering wide-ranging financial services under one roof.”
Vicki Burnett of JLL, joint agent with Knight Frank on Middlemarch Business Park said: “Baldwin’s letting of 8,562 sq ft at Middlemarch Office Park shows real confidence in the quality of the refurbishment and is a major fillip for the park. The Park has suffered historically from its lack of connectivity, however the Toll Bar End upgrade has completely transformed the surrounding road network, which is perfect timing for Evenacre and Bridges to be delivering 40,000 sq ft of Grade A office space onto the market.”
With Baldwins taking 8,562 sq ft of space at Middlemarch, a further 8,000 sq ft will be delivered in spring 2017 with 25,000 sq ft being completed in the summer.
Jamie Phillips at Knight Frank added “We’re already in talks with occupiers looking to take the remaining space even before practical completion of the full refurbishment and with the current dearth of quality Grade A space in the area, we’re confident the remaining space won’t be around for long.”
Midlands Property Company, Evenacre, has already established a successful track record in the region, delivering over 100,000 sq ft Grade A offices in Birmingham including 158 Edmund Street, 122-124 Colmore Row and Victoria House and 170 Edmund Street, which is also a JV with Bridges.