Assay Office redevelopment proceeding to schedule
CONSTRUCTION work on Birmingham’s new Assay Office is progressing well and set for completion next year.
The hallmarking office has been at its current home in Newhall Street since 1877 but the building is now too small for its current needs.
The building has been sold to property developer TCN UK and staff will leave the office once the new facility is complete.
The new site is located within the St George’s development, fronting Icknield Street in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The move will ensure the office retains its historic links with one of Birmingham’s oldest business quarters.
The new building (below) will offer better facilities and personal security to staff and customers and will also enable wider public access to the resources, such as its private library and Silver Collection.
Another reason for the choice of site is that the St George’s development falls within the city centre Enterprise Zone making it eligible for funding and planning incentives.
The building project has attracted an ERDF grant of £1.2m which, coupled with the financial incentives of the Enterprise Zone, have enabled the Assay Office to pursue plans for the move despite the recession, which hit the jewellery industry hard.
The new development is being co-ordinated by project manager Mark Wright, of Trebor Developments and the building has been designed by Glazzard Architects of Worcester.
The exterior of the new Assay Office has been carefully designed to complement the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area and existing neighbours such as the Kettleworks building, while creating an iconic look with an eye to the future.
Galliford Try is constructing the building, working to a very detailed brief which the office said recognised the significance of the project to Birmingham and to the jewellery industry.
