Williams Gunter Hardwick - Offices Development - Clifton, Bristol

Date: 28 Mar 2008

NATIONAL property advisors GVA Grimley have pre-let the first offices at Bristol developer Ashfield Land's prestigious Clifton development, St Catherine's Court.

The firm, which marks its 40th anniversary in Bristol this year, is taking on two floors totalling 10,527 sq ft on a flexible 15 year lease.

James Digby of Ashfield Land commented "We are delighted that GVA Grimley is relocating its regional head office in Bristol office to St Catherine's Court. This underlines the quality of the scheme and the strength of the location in the heart of Clifton."

GVA Grimley, which merged with Bristol property agents Osmond Tricks in 2006, is currently based at University Gate, Park Row, where it employs 76 staff.

Joint Regional Senior Director of GVA Grimley, David Mace, said: "This is a great opportunity for GVA Grimley to acquire new premises in what will undoubtedly be one of the best office buildings in Clifton. In terms of location, it's only a few hundred metres from our current offices, making it convenient for staff and clients alike," he said.

"The new offices will give us more space to expand in the future and everyone here is looking forward to moving in when it's completed in 2009," adds David.

There are three floors of high quality office space totalling more than 20,000 sq ft still available at a quoting rent of £28 per sq ft. All the offices are fully air conditioned and have been designed to achieve a BREEAM very good rating.

Joint agents Williams Gunter Hardwick and Alder King say that interest in St Catherine's Court has been excellent.

Andrew Hardwick, director of Williams Gunter Hardwick, said: "With a firm like GVA Grimley signed up and the ground works now completed, we expect to pre-let the remaining three floors very quickly," said Andrew.

"St Catherine's Court is the first office scheme of its kind to be built in the area for 20 years and its architectural design and flexible open plan office space make it an ideal base for many of the city's leading businesses," he said.

The building's contemporary specification will feature air conditioning, twin passenger lifts, suspended ceilings with recessed LG3 lighting, showers, courtyard gardens, and 14 basement parking spaces. Construction is due to complete in early 2009.

The striking design for St Catherine's Court has been created by Bristol architects AWW, with construction work by Avonmouth contractors, Sisk.