Businesses seeking office space with character and history are on the rise, reports our Commercial Asset Manager, Chrissy Feenan.
“Since the start of the year, the number of enquiries for office space in historic or converted buildings has been steadily increasing,” says Chrissy. “Typically, these premises not only have attractive period features but also benefit from semi-rural or rural locations, meaning good size car parks and access to plenty of outdoor space for lunchtime walks or exercise.
“Accessibility is also a high priority, and instead of queuing in traffic to reach city centre locations, historic or converted properties are often found in destinations with good nearby road connections and more scenic commutes.”
One business to recently secure a historic property for its additional premises is law firm, Simply Legal. After launching four years ago in Buckinghamshire, the firm was looking for the right location to open its second office, and eventually chose a 550 sq ft space at The Coach House, which sits in the grounds of the Grade II listed Desford Hall in Leicestershire.
Senior Partner, Saveeta Kaur comments: “We were looking for a new Midlands location to continue growing our business and better serve clients from the North and South of England. The Coach House is easily accessible from the M1 and M69, and is surrounded by beautiful countryside and landscaped gardens, making it an attractive place to work and hold client meetings. The office itself is modern and bright, yet with a characterful exterior; we’ve made an excellent choice. In fact, opening the office has been so successful that we’re now looking to recruit Solicitors, Paralegals, Fee Earners and Legal Assistants for our Residential Property team.”
Businesses seeking similar premises, whether for relocation, expansion or more flexible working, are advised to act quickly. Our current portfolio includes historic properties such as the 18th Century Grade II listed Manor House,19th Century Grade II listed Devonshire House and late Regency style Hill House all conveniently located in Lutterworth town centre together with barn conversions at Seaton Grange, Rutland and Newnham Grounds Farm, Rugby.
