South Bristol is finally making its mark after what seems like decades in the doldrums.
That’s according to city commercial property specialist Paul Williams from Bruton Knowles who said a series of recent developments is helping to shift Bristol’s creative axis south of the River Avon.
He said: “South Bristol is enjoying something of a renaissance in terms of businesses looking for commercial property.
“It’s not just a question of lower rents this side of the river, it’s also about new, young business needing to be seen in the hip and trendy locations.”
Paul said infrastructure projects such as the South Bristol Link Road and the MetroBus project will greatly improve accessibility to and from the area. The new Filwood Green Business Park, which provides a range of starter offices and workshop spaces is due to open next month and will transform the way the area is viewed.
He went on: “For so long considered the poor relation, South Bristol will succeed on its own terms, not by aping the business parks on the north Bristol fringe, but by forging its own identity based on creativity and innovation.
“The ‘Media Mile’ is starting to look more like a ‘Golden Triangle’, bounded by the Temple Studios, The Paintworks and Bath Road Studios on one side, extending out to the Bottle Yard Film Studios in Whitchurch and encompassing Filwood Green Business Park.”
Paul is currently marketing a 4,924 sq ft office suite at Clue House on the up-and-coming Central Park commercial estate in Hengrove, slap-bang in the middle of this activity zone.
Located mid-way between the city centre and the Bottle Yard Studios, Central Park was formerly occupied by Berger Paints, and is strategically positioned just off the A37 Wells Road, less than two miles from the city centre.
Clue House is a detached two-storey office building at the entrance to the estate, and the available space comprises the entire first floor, which is available with a minimum of 15 on site car parking spaces.
Paul Williams said Central Park could also play a part in the resurgence of South Bristol as a commercial property location.
He said: “We have all welcomed the developments in and around the Temple Meads area which are transforming one of the main gateways into the city, and are looking forward to seeing what additional benefits the Enterprise Zone will bring.
“Paintworks, Bath Road Studios and the Bottle Yard have extended Bristol’s reputation for entrepreneurial excellence across the Avon and back into districts which had fallen off the radar during the downturn.
“The area has a large and skilled workforce and businesses this side of the river don’t have to factor in staff being delayed for hours trying to negotiate the city centre traffic.”
Paul Williams concluded: “I predict that South Bristol is well on the way to building a reputation as THE location for creative, media and high tech businesses setting up in the city, and increasing demand will change the way that people regard South Bristol.”
Clue House has facilities already installed such as a 100Mb leaseline, an IP based phone system and 48 hour back up power, as well as disaster recovery, systems replication, and IT back-up facility, making it ideal for companies in the media and high-tech sectors looking for good value ‘plug and play’ office space.
It can be fitted out and configured to match the needs of the incoming tenant, and there aren’t many places this close to the city centre where you can find 15 or more parking spaces with 5,000 sq ft of office space.
“For companies seeking great value, well located accommodation, at realistic rates, it’s a no-brainer.”
Knight Frank are joint agents marketing Clue House with Bruton Knowles.