City centre office building set for multi-million refurbishment

A BIRMINGHAM city centre office building is set to undergo a £2.5m facelift to meet the growing demand for smaller floorplates.

Nurton Developments, through its joint venture WINDL offices, is investing in the refurbishment of No 4 Temple Row, which occupies the corner plot of Temple Row and Bull Street on the route of the Midland Metro extension.

Nearly 24,000 sq ft of space will be available when the comprehensive refurbishment is completed in the autumn and the developer is targeting the city’s financial and professional services community for potential tenants.

Nurton is looking to take advantage of a lack of short-term availability of quality office space in the highly sought after 2,500 to 5,000 sq ft range in the city centre. It is already seeing interest from a number of firms.
 
The developer bought the building – then known as Aspect Court – in November. The deal, a joint venture with a private investor, was part of a £9m acquisition, which also included Wireless House in Warwick.
 
The refurbishment work at No.4 Temple Row will see the façade of the building cleaned and repaired and the windows replaced throughout. An enlarged reception area is being created. Two new high-speed lifts will be installed and the office levels will have raised floors and metal suspended ceilings incorporating LED lighting throughout.
 
Rupert Young, development director at Nurton, said: “Whilst there are a number of large-scale schemes in the medium to long-term pipeline the supply of high quality space currently available is dwindling.
 
“More schemes need to be geared towards the 2,500-5,000 sq ft occupier where a shortfall is looming.”
 
Theo Holmes, director, office agency at CBRE in Birmingham – joint agent on No.4 Temple Row with JLL, said the 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft was definitely looking like a hot spot in the market.

“This building ticks a lot of boxes in terms of size, location and the quality of the refurbishment,” he said.
 
“The extent of the refurbishment and the re-brand will see the building effectively re-invented and the dual aspect over Temple Row and Bull Street with its new Metro stop adds to a very attractive proposition.
 
“That’s probably why we are already seeing interest from potential occupiers.”