Bullish businesses move to revamped historic offices

(L-R) Charlotte Fullard, Lambert Smith Hampton; Alfred Bartlett, Rapleys; Hannah Floyd and Adrian Dearnley, both Rhino Interiors.

An historic building in Birmingham’s key business district is fast approaching full occupancy as occupiers seek high quality office accommodation in the city, says Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH).

The national commercial property consultancy has agreed deals for two new tenants set to expand by moving to the revamped 126 Colmore Row, in the heart of the city’s Colmore business district.

Expanding property and planning consultancy Rapleys LLP has relocated from serviced accommodation to take the entire 1,479 sq ft second floor of the five-storey building.

Rhino Interiors Limited has taken the entire third floor, with 1,628 sq ft office and showroom space, including a virtual reality suite to bring clients’ designs to life. The company’s expansion into Birmingham will create five new jobs.

Both companies have now completed their fit-outs and have moved into the building. Other occupiers include CS2 Surveyors and Walker Crips Stockbrokers.

Alfred Bartlett, head of Rapleys’ Birmingham office, said: “We are pleased to be moving to a central position in the city and to Colmore Row specifically. It is a much sought after address for office as well as retail and leisure occupiers and has a real vibrancy about it.

“It was the obvious location for Rapleys’ next move which underlines our growth and continued ambition to make a mark on the ongoing renaissance of Birmingham and the West Midlands.”

LSH was appointed marketing agent for 126 Colmore Row following the completion of an extensive refurbishment project completed last year.

Charlotte Fullard, senior surveyor in office advisory at LSH in Birmingham, said: “We’re seeing an increasing demand for quality office accommodation in Birmingham and so we have not been surprised at how successful these refurbished offices have been in attracting new tenants.

“There is a real pull for businesses to come to the city, with many smaller occupiers interested in locating and growing here, which can only be good for the local economy.

“New occupiers have been impressed by the quality, scale and prime location offered by 126 Colmore Row and we now only have two office suites remaining.”

Designed in the 1920s’ classical style by celebrated Birmingham architect Samuel Nathaniel Cooke, 126 Colmore Row is closely associated with the city’s button industry.

Converted into offices and now extensively refurbished, it provides quality, contemporary office space at one of Birmingham’s finest addresses.

The building is now virtually fully occupied with only two offices remaining, on the 1st and 5th floors, offering 739 sq ft and 860 sq ft respectively; the latter of which has its own private roof terrace.