A £1 million refurbishment programme recently undertaken
at a landmark office building in Leicester has proved extremely
popular with a number of local and regional businesses, helping
breathe life into the beleaguered commercial property market.
Acting on behalf of London-based property investment and
development company, Newbridge Capital Investments, national
commercial property consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH),
alongside joint agents Innes England, has let space on the ground,
second, third and fourth floors of 86-92 Regent Road (formerly
known as Enkalon House), totaling in excess of 16,000 sq ft.
The 1970's building, comprises 38,000 sq ft of high quality
office space over five-storeys and is situated within the heart of
Leicester's professional business district.
The businesses that have taken space include: Kaplan Financial,
a training and qualifications provider, which has taken occupancy
of the second floor; pensions group, Hornbuckle Mitchell, which has
taken part of the fourth floor; FTSE 250 company, Capita, which has
taken occupancy of part of the ground floor; and national IT
solutions provider, Investmaster Group, which has taken the third
floor.
Archie Warman at Newbridge Capital Investments said: "Our
investment strategy of intensive and pro-active asset management
has clearly paid off. 86-92 Regent Road has only recently
been launched back onto the market following its recent makeover
and has already secured a number of high-profile lettings, all of
which are particularly strong covenants."
Newbridge Capital Investments completed the £1m
redevelopment earlier this year, which features the modernisation
of the manned central reception, newly-refurbished flexible office
accommodation, air conditioning, suspended ceilings and raised
flooring, together with LG7 environmentally friendly
lighting.
Not only does the building benefit from being within close
proximity of the city's rail station, M1 motorway and East Midlands
Airport, it also enjoys a prominent corner position on the junction
of Regent Road and Waterloo Way, part of the inner ring-road
network within the bounds of Leicester's professional office
district. A high level of car parking has also assisted in
attracting occupiers.
Jane Taylor, Head of Office Agency at LSH's Leicester office,
added: "The redevelopment has brought back to life what was a
fairly anonymous building by updating and refurbishing the
interiors to the highest specification and is a major contributory
factor towards the building achieving 90 per cent occupancy during
what is a particularly challenging climate.
"Contrary to popular belief, transactions are still occurring in
the Leicester office market and enquiries are promising for the
remaining 4, 000 sq ft."