Assay Office finds new home in Jewellery Quarter
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THE Assay Office in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is to relocate after a new deal was agreed at a regeneration project.
The office, which analyses and verifies precious metal content, has been based in Newhall Street for 134 years but will move to Pope Street as part of the proposed ‘St Georges’ development, also in the Jewellery Quarter.
The deal has been agreed with the St Georges Partnership, a joint venture between Jewellery Quarter-based Chord Investments and Coventry-based Deeley Properties, along with Longbridge-based Trebor Developments which is representing the Assay Office.
The joint venture partners will also build the new Assay Office, which was founded in 1773.
It has been designed by Worcester practice Glazzard Architects. A planning application for the 45,000 sq ft premises will be submitted soon with construction work anticipated to start next spring.
The new office will house its hallmarking operation, testing laboratory, gem certification and jewellery valuation activities.
There will also be teaching and meeting facilities, a gift shop and public exhibition areas.
The deal is the first signed at St Georges, a 6.8-acre mixed-use regeneration scheme on land around Camden Street, Pope Street and Carver Street with planning permission for almost 230,000 sq ft of BREEAM ‘Excellent’ offices, more than 400 new homes, shops, bars and restaurants.
The project, which includes the ‘Kettleworks’ former Swan kitchenware factory, has been in the pipeline for several years but was stalled due to the economic downturn.
Birmingham agents DTZ and GBR Phoenix Beard are marketing the office part of the scheme.
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