Government signs for Birmingham’s largest office deal of 2019
The Government is to open a second hub in Birmingham which will house around 1,700 civil servants from 2021.
The new hub will be based at Platform 21, which is inside the former Woolworths building in the New Street Conservation area. The deal is for the entire nine-storey building, totalling 110,780 sq ft.
The hub will be developed by LaSalle Investment Management working with development manager Evenacre and from 2021 will be home to about 1,700 civil servants.
The development is the second hub to be announced in Birmingham, following 3 Arena Central which will house a further 3,600 civil servants when it opens in 2021.
The Minister for implementation at the Cabinet Office, Simon Hart, said: “Developing Government Hubs helps to bring forward vital regeneration projects across the country and boost local economies.
“It also makes sure government workers have the best possible facilities and saves taxpayers’ money by replacing outdated office blocks which are expensive to maintain with more modern facilities.
The Government Hubs programme has so far seen the development of 14 office hubs around the country, providing civil servants with state-of-the-art working environments designed to boost efficiency and drive savings through increased efficiency.
Government Hubs bring together different departments under one roof – moving civil servants to inner-city sites located close to public transport connections, local amenities and shops.
The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, said: “I am delighted to see the Platform 21 development in Birmingham has been chosen as the location for a Government Hub.
“Simon and his team have recognised the city’s great transport links and infrastructure, and the fact the city, and indeed the wider region, has so much to offer.”
Kelvin Craddock director, tenant representation from JLL who acted on behalf of Government Property Agency (GPA) to acquire Platform 21 said: “We’re delighted to have been involved in another landmark deal for the city. It’s great news for Birmingham and the region, further stimulating economic growth and maintaining our presence as a key destination for the public sector and large corporates looking for greater efficiencies, in a vibrant and rapidly growing city. “
