POLISHED PEARL OFFERS PERFECT OFFICE LOCATION

Office News

HIGH quality office space in an historic city centre landmark has been re-launched to the market by Nottingham property consultancy FHP.  Surveyor James Hartley is handling the marketing of four floors in The Pearl – the new name for Pearl House, the distinctive 1960s office block which stands tall over Nottingham’s Market Square.

The building space has been comprehensively refurbished by the building’s landlord, Development Securities, with each floor comprises around 3,700 sq ft of high-quality office space which blends professional appeal with a central location. James Hartley says the space should appeal to a wide variety of potential users, who would be moving into a building which has historically hosted tenants such as law firms, financial services organisations, and the regional operations of regulatory bodies and charitable organisations.

He commented: “Pearl House is a landmark for all sorts of reasons. It has become a part of the city’s landscape, has been home to an impressive number of high-profile businesses and a great contributor to the city’s economy over the years.  The 1960s isn’t remembered fondly for its buildings, but The Pearl is an exception. It was an architectural landmark when it was constructed and it remains appealing to this day. It was also a pretty visionary development – even though it was constructed more than 40 years ago, it continues to be a brilliant location for business. It is close to the city centre and all its facilities and only yards from Nottingham’s tram network.

“When you consider all the investment which is taking place in Nottingham, with the extension of the tram network, the development of a transport hub at the railway station, the enterprise zone and the widening of the A453, what you have here is a really well-placed location for business.”

Though The Pearl’s basic structure dates back to the 1960s it has been brought up to date by its current landlord, Development Securities, one of the UK’s leading property developers and investors.

James Hartley said: “This is a great example of astute, well-managed property investment in action, with a landlord who is doing everything right. Development Securities took the building on a couple of years ago when it was, perhaps, just beginning to lose some of its lustre. They have since engaged in a high-quality refurbishment exercise which has left the building looking fantastic. It now exudes exactly the kind of discreet quality that I believe professional occupiers are looking for.

“The refurbishment has seen the space completely refitted and its offers facilities and infrastructure which would suit established professional organisations and those who are perhaps looking to take the next step-up in terms of location but in an affordable manner.

“It is open plan space which allows people to interact, and investment in upgrading The Pearl’s reception area means visitors are given a high-quality experience form the moment they enter the building. Put simply, Development Securities have transformed a building which might have seemed sterile and institutionalised into something that is both inspiring and appealing. It is a model of wise investment.”

James Hartley says that Nottingham is suffering from a shortage of high-quality office space at the moment, with no new build coming on to the market in the immediate future and the amount of viable second hand stock dwindling. He concluded: “The Pearl has never lost its appeal as a business location, and with refurbished space I think it is in a very strong position to attract interest from occupiers looking for space which is ready to be occupied.”