Commercial property agents looking for suitable opportunities for their clients have been given a sneak peak of One Friargate – where the fit out is well underway ready for its handover to owner occupier Coventry City Council in August.
The agents took a tour of the 11 storey building to see nearly 200 construction workers completing ceilings, installing furniture, laying carpets and finishing off glazing, painting and tiling. Outside, work continues on the public realm as well as a new slip road junction.
From the terrace on the 11th floor, the visitors also took in the panoramic views of Coventry– which include the distant Ricoh Stadium, city centre, adjacent train station, and the famous three spires of Holy Trinity Church, Christ Church and St Michael’s Church.
Coventry City council is set to move 1,500 staff into the striking new building in October, while two floors will be occupied by up to 300 staff from the Financial Ombudsman Service, who are relocating from London.
Friargate’s Stephen Reynolds said: “One Friargate will be fully occupied later this year, but agents are very keen to look inside as it gives a taste of future buildings planned for the Friargate development. We have already secured planning permission for the next building, Two Friargate, which will be just next door and provides 100,000 sq ft of Grade A office space over 14 floors and a double-height ground floor that will offer great space for a restaurant or café.
“With the Financial Ombudsman Service choosing to locate some of its offices away from London, there has been a surge of interest in Friargate and Coventry and I am confident we will soon be attracting further major employers looking to locate in the Midlands.”
The 37-acre Friargate site is set to create up to 15,000 jobs. Among the 25 new buildings to be delivered, will be 14 new office buildings, hotels, shops and restaurants in addition to new homes.