Demolition work to clear a 0.46-acre brownfield site at Wilford Road, on the Southern Fringe of Nottingham city centre, has begun, making way for a 100,000 sq ft landmark office development, to be known as Sentinel.

Wilson Bowden Developments (WBD), the property development company specializing in office and industrial developments and town centre regeneration projects, has successfully completed the acquisition of the former product testing site from pharmaceutical company, Alliance Boots.  

WBD secured planning consent from Nottingham County Council in April last year to proceed with the development of its Sentinel scheme, which will feature 100,000 sq ft of Grade A offices arranged over eight floors.

Having originally disposed of the site on behalf of Alliance Boots in February this year, national commercial property consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has been retained by WBD as joint strategic marketing and letting agent on the development, alongside FHP.

Phil Quiggin, Head of Office Agency at LSH's Nottingham office, said: "Against a backdrop of ongoing challenging market conditions we are delighted that WBD has reaffirmed its commitment to this development project. 

"Following completion of the demolition works in September 2009, WBD will commence a period of design development and it is our intention to secure a pre-let for whole or part of the scheme before construction commences on site."

Robert Grafton, Development Director at WBD said: "We are at an exciting stage of the development process and are keen to see the project come to fruition.  As such, we hope to be on site very soon.

"Sentinel is a key focal point for the Southside Regeneration Area which is currently undergoing a major transformation and it is fantastic to be part the overall process."

John Proctor at FHP added: "Sentinel, along with other neighboring developments which form part of the Southside Regeneration Area, will help to transform the area, providing a welcome boost for the local economy and to those home grown companies or inward investors who will be able to expand their businesses there."