Iconic Hallmark Cards building sold in multi-million pound deal

Hallmark House, one of Bradford’s most iconic buildings, has been sold for £6.5m.

The Investment Room, a Yorkshire-based residential property investor, has bought the Grade II listed building.

The sale of the 8.76 acre site follows the relocation of Hallmark Cards from Hallmark House to its sister site at Dawson Lane in south Bradford, with the company’s 500 staff.

Hallmark House, an historic Art Deco 76,207 sq ft building, was built in 1937 and extensively refurbished in 2001. In addition to the house itself, 3.3 acres was included in its sale.

The Investment Room is planning to build between 150 and 200 units on the site, both in Hallmark House itself and an adjacent warehouse, together with a new-build development.

The deal was brokered by leading Yorkshire property consultancy Dove Haigh Phillips.

Simon Dove, partner with Dove Haigh Phillips, said: “This was an excellent opportunity for a residential development in the heart of West Yorkshire, which is reflected in the healthy sale price.

“Hallmark House is a stunning four-storey property on the edge of Airedale, which has immense potential. We believed it provided the perfect opportunity for a residential conversion and this has proved to be the case.”

The building has a rich history. During the 1930s, W N Sharpe of Bradford built Hallmark House as the headquarters for its printing business. In 1984 Hallmark Cards, the family-owned international greetings card business, acquired W N Sharpe’s printing operation for nearly £21m. The colonnaded office building was completely refurbished and opened as Hallmark House in 2001.

It is understood that The Investment Room will name its new development after W N Sharpe.

Hallmark’s decision to move its headquarters to Dawson Lane in south Bradford was announced some months ago.

The move will bring head office operations closer to the distribution operation and also create a dedicated creative and design space, enabling the business to be more connected.

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