The Midlands office of leading real estate adviser Bilfinger GVA has helped to secure a new joint venture between blue chip companies Severn Trent and United Utilities as an occupier at Stoke-on-Trent’s landmark Two Smithfield.
Bilfinger GVA has worked with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to secure the joint venture, called Water Plus, which is bringing 400 jobs to the city.
Established specifically to provide water to the non-domestic commercial market, Water Plus has taken 38,300 sq ft, representing the building’s first and second floors, on a 10-year lease. Quoting rents at Two Smithfield are £18 psf.
Extending to 81,496 sq ft over ground and four upper floors – with flexible floorplates of 19,175 sq ft set around a central atrium – Two Smithfield features highly specified BREEAM Excellent commercial accommodation. This letting leaves a further two floors totalling 38,300 sq ft available in the building.
Andrew Venables, Director at Bilfinger GVA, said: “This is a fantastic letting that really exemplifies Stoke-on-Trent’s growing reputation as a centre for high quality national and international businesses.”
Water Plus will use the building to house its customer services and business improvement facilities and has already taken occupancy.
Sue Amies-King, chief executive of Water Plus, said: “Stoke-on-Trent represents a perfect location for us, equidistant from Severn Trent’s offices in Birmingham and Coventry and UU’s base in Warrington. It is fitting that as a new company, we should be looking towards brand new, efficient offices and combined with its transport links and access to the city centre, Two Smithfield provides us with a perfect location.”
Two Smithfield is a part of the first phase of the Smithfield masterplan with development opportunities for 1.2 million sq ft of office, retail and leisure space alongside 3.5 acres of landscaped public realm.
Councillor Jack Brereton, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for regeneration, transport and heritage, said: “We are delighted to have secured this joint venture company, formed by two of the UK’s best known water providers, as the first occupier at Two Smithfield. This shows the building confidence in our economy and what the city has to offer.”
Stoke-on-Trent is already home to a number of major brands including Vodafone, Bet 365, Wardell Armstrong, Screwfix and Michelin.
