GVA completes sale of Ashford House

GVA has completed the sale of Ashford House in Coventry on behalf of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.

International professional services consultancy the Rhead Group purchased the recently refurbished 27,189 sq ft office building, which is located on the Walsgrave Triangle Business Park.  

Adrian Griffiths, Associate at GVA’s Midlands office, said: “Ashford House represents an exceedingly attractive prospect for occupiers.  The wealth of nearby amenities and extensive refurbishment has further enhanced the desirability of Ashford House and its position as a key office location in the region.”

The refurbishment by Scottish Widows Investment Partnership was completed in just six months, following the departure of the previous tenant in December 2011.

The Rhead Group joins other business occupiers at Walsgrave Triangle Business Park, including Barclays, Lloyds Pharmacy and Denso.

Wind Prospect expands presence in Solihull

RENEWABLE energy company, Wind Prospect, has expanded into new premises at Warwick House in Solihull.

The company, which has taken a 3,846 sq ft letting, has been developing wind farms for almost two decades and provides advice and services to others within the renewable energy sector.

It first established a presence in Solihull in 2004 but expansion has seen its needs change. New business has seen the Solihull team grow from nine people last year to 15, with further recruitment planned.

Chris Morris, commercial director for Wind Prospect Group, said: “Solihull is a significant office for the company, as it controls the technology required to operate the business and communicate with more than 230 people employed in offices around the world.

“One of the attractions of Warwick House was the speed of its broadband connections and its air conditioned rooms, to keep both the staff and the systems cool.”

Victoria Burnett from the Birmingham offices of Jones Lang LaSalle, who acted on behalf of the landlord, said Warwick House had always been a consistent performer.

Pictured from left: Eva Gromadzki, general manager Wind Direct, Vicki Burnett, Jones Lang LaSalle and Tony Gagnon, head of IT at Wind Prospect.

Grenke Leasing opts for Tamworth in search for Midlands base

ONE of Europe’s most successful technology financing specialists has chosen Tamworth for its new Midlands office.
 
Grenke Leasing looked at potential locations across the region, but branch manager Stuart McKee said Sibson Mill’s Vantage House scheme, on the Sandy Hill Business Park, was its preferred choice.

He said: “The quality and the finish of the building was impeccable, and simply overshadowed all the other premises we’d viewed. The location is just right, for the region I cover.”

Grenke has taken 1,945 sq ft of ground-floor space, leaving less than 3,200 sq ft available within the property.

Jones Lang LaSalle’s Birmingham-based head of office agency, Jon Carmalt, said the letting was a strong one for the property.

“Grenke is a highly-regarded company, and also has an excellent rating from Standard & Poor’s, so we were very pleased when we heard it was looking for an office for its Midlands operations,” he said.

“Its business model has always been to establish a local presence for each market, so we were optimistic that Vantage House would make the short-list, because it is a high quality product.”

Since being founded in Germany 34 years ago Grenke has become a global brand in its sector and is looking to open further branches in Cardiff, Glasgow and Newcastle over the coming 12 months.

Sibson Mill Properties, which developed Sandy Hill Business Park, owns a portfolio of office, industrial and residential properties in and around the Tamworth area.  Other office schemes developed by the company include Centurion Court in Centurion Way, Darwell Park at Amington Industrial Estate and Ninian Park at Tame Valley Industrial Estate.

Pictured from left are: Peter Hicks, Peter J Hicks & Co, Stuart McKee, Grenke Leasing Ltd and Tom Smith, Sibson Mill Properties.