Joint effort achieves savings in Bath office refurbishment

Building consultancy teams at two West of England property agencies combined to beat tight deadlines and save over £100,000 in the refurbishment of Trimbridge House in Bath.

The building consultancy team at Knight Frank, representing incoming tenant Ascentric, and Lambert Smith Hampton, which represented the landlord Henderson Global Investors, worked together to agree a joint plan of works that met both the landlord’s Category A refurbishment plans and the Category B tenant’s fitout requirements in a single programme.

As a result Ascentric was able to occupy the building a full three months earlier than would normally have been the case.

The 21,000 sq ft property, formerly occupied by Bath and North East Somerset Council, is now fully let on a 10 year lease to Ascentric, the financial services technology provider which employs over 160 staff.

The vacant outdated office building was transformed into a modern, prime office location within nine months. The extensive internal and external works required included the replacement of all plant, mechanical and electrical installations, the introduction of air conditioning, new windows and contemporary glazed frontage as well as completely new interior fittings and finishes.

Mark Matthews, building consultancy partner at Knight Frank, said: “Tight deadlines imposed a real challenge on both parties and the decision to work as a combined team enabled us to achieve savings on the £1.2 million project, both for the landlord on the main contract and by avoiding abortive costs by the tenant.”

“Paul Law, head of LSH’s building consultancy said: “Main contractor Melhuish & Saunders and sub-contractors Wheelers Mechanical and Somer 2000 Electrical showed great flexibility in delivering their contribution.”