A landmark office building in the heart of Southampton’s business district now has over 60% occupancy following the latest letting.
WSP, the global engineering professional services firm, signed a 10-year lease on 4,910 sq ft on one of two ground floor suites at three-storey Grosvenor House.
The deal, through property consultancy Vail Williams LLP, joint agents with LSH, follows legal firm BDB Pitmans recently signing up to a 6,200 sq ft suite on the first floor.
National oil and fuel distributor WP Group was the first occupier in, with a 5,413 sq ft suite on the second floor.
Alex Gauntlett, a surveyor at Vail Williams, working out of the firm’s office at Ocean Village in Southampton, said: “Demand from high-calibre companies for prestigious office space in the city centre continues apace.
“Grosvenor House now has 60% occupancy following the latest signing by WSP and we anticipate uptake on the remaining three available suites in the near future because of the lack of Grade A office space available locally.”
Available space comprises Suite 2 on the ground floor – 4,410 sq ft, Suite 2 on the first floor – 3,446 sq ft, and Suite 2 on the second floor – 4,324 sq ft.
Andy Hodgkinson, Director at LSH, said: “There’s no doubt that high on the agenda for business when considering a move is ‘how will the new building fit with our brand and how will it help us to recruit the best talent in the market?’ The calibre of tenants choosing Grosvenor House speaks volumes about the building. It’s gaining a reputation as the best-in-class in Southampton city centre.”
Building owner Ameriscot Commercial invested a seven-figure sum in transforming the 29,621 sq ft property, with high-specification finishes including a new reception, air conditioning, LED lighting and toilet facilities; running costs are reportedly the lowest in the city.
There are 34 on-site parking spaces at Grosvenor House, which is located at Grosvenor Square and is close to restaurants, the 02 Guildhall, WestQuay Shopping Centre and Southampton’s rail and bus stations.
Bill Parker of Bournemouth-based Ameriscot Commercial said: “We opened Grosvenor House last year, with significant interest from a range of high-calibre companies. This has materialised with three major lettings, with only 40% of office accommodation remaining on a leased basis.
“Grosvenor House is very much part of our ethos of creating high-spec flexible working environments at competitive prices with low service charges.”
The offices are located in a unique city centre environment overlooking Grosvenor Square, with its bronze statue of Earl Mountbatten, who lived at Broadlands, Romsey, and had close connections with Southampton and Hampshire.
Grosvenor House has electric charging points, cycle and shower facilities included as part of the refurbishment project.
