Proposals for Bath’s first major office development for more than 20 years have been lodged with Bath and North East Somerset Council. Developers Ediston Real Estate and Europa Capital aim to develop Number 1 Pinesgate, to comprise 113,000 sq ft of flexible Grade A office space. The Pinesgate site, on Lower Bristol Road, lies at the edge of the historic city centre.
Richard Kidd, Director of Office Agency at property adviser GVA, appointed as joint agents with Hartnell Taylor Cook LLP for the Pinesgate development, says the new space will be a “game changer” for the hitherto constrained Bath office market.
“Bath has had no significant office development for over two decades and the resultant lack of Grade A space led to a number of Bath companies relocating to Bristol and beyond in order to secure suitable office premises as they grow their businesses. In the meantime, occupiers from further afield, attracted by Bath’s unrivalled lifestyle and its highly educated labour pool, have nevertheless had to look elsewhere.
“That is about to change. Number 1 Pinesgate offers a unique opportunity for occupiers to take a fresh look at Bath and to take advantage of the city’s phenomenal cultural, sporting and professional facilities. The city is currently only 90 minutes from central London, with that journey time set to be reduced further once the electrification of the main South West railway line in 2018.”
Just a short walk from the Southgate Shopping centre and from Bath Railway Station, the new building has been designed by Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios to address the chronic shortfall of quality Grade A office space in the city. It will feature flexible open plan space over four floors, with car parking for 84 cars, cycle storage, and showers, lockers and changing facilities.
Chris Grazier, partner in charge of Offices at Hartnell Taylor Cook LLP, says: “This will be a high-quality, Grade A development in a world-class heritage setting. The site falls within Bath’s City of Ideas Enterprise Area, and so the developers have been working closely with the Bath and North East Somerset to ensure that the new space will reinforce the strategic vision for the future of the city.”
A detailed planning application is currently being considered by Bath and North East Somerset, with a decision is anticipated in September. The developers intend that the building will be ready for occupation in mid 2016.
