Pictured: Indy Singh, general manager OCLC (UK)
Limited
Birmingham's accessibility has led 54 Hagley Road to achieve
another letting at the Edgbaston based Grade A scheme, luring an
occupier across the road to its £15 million refurbished
offices.
OCLC, previously based in Tricorn House, has signed up for just
over 5000sq ft on a 10 year lease, to continue its 20 year presence
in the city as it offers an excellent central location for its
training and conferencing requirements.
The global nonprofit membership organisation works with
libraries to enable greater accessibility to the world's library
materials through provision of software services and systems.
In Europe, OCLC also has regional offices in the Netherlands,
Germany and France as well as in the UK. John Fletcher at Altus
Edwin Hill acted on behalf of OCLC to secure the letting.
Indy Singh general manager of OCLC (UK) Limited says, "We
currently provide software services that support and streamline
workflow for the majority of public and academic libraries in the
UK. This creates a regular requirement to meet with customers
and deliver training and Birmingham is an easy destination to
reach.
The fact that we are now also able to offer them a location
equipped with the best conferencing and training facilities in a
modern and vibrant setting is an ideal scenario for us and for
them."
The OCLC letting is the second in the past two months at 54,
with offices also being taken by construction and property
consultants, Robinson Low Francis (RLF) in August.
As Jonathan Carmalt, joint letting agent with Mark Robinson at
GBR says, "We understand OCLC was looking for more modern,
efficient offices to provide a fresh feel to the business and a
welcome new setting for its workforce. 54 Hagley Road fitted the
bill without causing too much disruption to its team.
"The landlords, Mercia Real Estate Limited are also offering
tenant friendly packages to prospective occupiers and are willing
to be flexible to achieve lettings, which in the current climate is
absolutely the right strategy."
Mercia Real Estate Limited is an affiliate of US-based private
equity firm, Westbrook Partners.
The £15m refurbishment at 54 Hagley Road has created a
stylish working and lifestyle environment that will satisfy the
needs of companies that are anxious to recruit and retain quality
staff.
54 Hagley Road is currently creating new meeting rooms, a coffee
shop and offers a bright vibrant new central reception area, air
conditioning, six new lifts and suspended ceilings with
LG7-compatible lighting, as well as open floor plates with carpeted
raised floors, new toilets and showers, and improved disabled
facilities.
The car parking ratio of 1:438 sq ft of office accommodation in
surface, undercroft and multi-storey levels is also much better
than available in other areas of Birmingham.
All this is complemented by views across a surprising amount of
green space in Edgbaston which is one of Europe's largest Urban
Conservation areas. A wealth of amenities are also available with
first class transport links including Five Ways train station,
quality schools, Michelin star restaurants, historic beauty spots
and first class sporting and leisure facilities.