Comprehensive refurbishment of Birmingham’s Norfolk House to deliver larger floorplates to city

Birmingham’s prominent Norfolk House is in the process of being transformed into contemporary Grade A office space, elevating it from its current dated and unloved state and bringing more high specification office space to the market.

Owners London and Scottish are undertaking a full refurbishment of the vacant floors in the 80,000 sq ft building, stripping the space back to shell and retrofitting to provide Grade A specification offices.  The reception and core circulation areas are also being refurbished to a high standard, creating an appealing and contemporary environment across the building’s six floors.

Fronting Smallbrook Queensway, Norfolk House is located next to the recently refurbished Birmingham New Street station and opposite the Bullring shopping centre and benefits significant from its close proximity to two of the city’s leading transport and retail destinations.

Norfolk House is currently home to marketing company Spark 44 and the Government Tribunal Service (HMTS) and with circa 50,000 sq ft of space available on the ground, first and third floors, represents one of the few in the city that can satisfy large single floor plate enquiries of over 10,000 sq ft.

Steven Griffiths, London and Scottish Investment, said: “Norfolk House is a unique destination within Birmingham, with a great location next to New Street and the Bullring and a huge degree of potential for the delivery of truly outstanding offices.

“The Birmingham marketplace is continuing to receive significant levels of interest from national occupiers and this refurbishment will ensure that there is sufficient space of a high enough quality to meet this demand.”

London and Scottish Investment has appointed Bilfinger GVA and Cushman & Wakefield as joint letting agents.

George Jennings, Bilfinger GVA, said: “Norfolk House represents a versatile opportunity with wide-ranging appeal to a variety of occupiers looking for well-located office space with a £20 per sq ft rental budget. This is a unique proposition within the Birmingham office market, as floorplates of this size and price bracket aren’t available anywhere else.

“With a dwindling supply of new build Grade A space in the city, there is greater reliance on high quality refurbishments such as this to satisfy demand from existing city occupiers and inward investors.”

Andrew Berry, Cushman & Wakefield, said: “London and Scottish Investments purchased this building in April 2015 with the express intention of an exciting redevelopment in this rapidly improving part of Birmingham. Within three months, they’d secured Spark 44 as a new tenant within the building.

“Following the refurbishment, Norfolk House will be well positioned to cover the needs of a range of occupiers’ requirements all of whom will benefit from the capital projects that have recently been completed in the city centre that have resulted in increased permeability across the UK and will greatly improve staff welfare.”

Space at Norfolk House is available from suites of 10,000 sq ft, full floorplates of 19,000 sq ft and up to 48,000 sq ft.