Two Snowhill the location for 100,000 sq ft HS2 headquarters
IN one of the largest lettings in the Birmingham central office market in recent years, Hines and Ballymore have signed up HS2 Ltd to 100,000 sq ft of space at their Two Snowhill scheme in central Birmingham.
It will be used as the organisation’s operational headquarters for its new construction company. From there it will oversee the construction of the first phase of the high-speed rail link, from Birmingham to London.
The news that HS2 is relocating staff from London to a new Birmingham base – and employing more staff locally – was revealed this morning and will be officially announced by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin today.
1,500 jobs new to Birmingham will be created in total.
McLoughlin and HS2 Chairman David Higgins are also meet with Birmingham City Council Leader Sir Albert Bore today to launch the city’s urban regeneration company – Birmingham Curzon Urban Regeneration Company.
This will lead the development of more than 140 hectares of land around Curzon Street in the Eastside area where the city’s HS2 terminus is die to be located.
Hines Interests Limited Partnership on behalf of Hines European Development Fund II bought the freehold interest in the 314,000 sq ft Two Snowhill building in 2011. Hines and Ballymore jointly developed the site.
Two Snowhill is now effectively full. Law firm Wragge & Co – now Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co – pre-let 185,000 sq ft of offices there and serviced office group i2 Office let 23,500 sq ft.
