Throughout 2010, Yorkshire battled against a visible problem of oversupply, with office space developments including No 1 Leeds and The Mint, hugely under occupied. 2011 however, has seen some big deals in the serviced office industry, with Asda now renting 40,000sqft of office space at The Mint at a rate of £21 per square foot.

In addition to this, i2 Offices are now occupying 15,000sqft at No 1 Leeds, and UBS have taken 1,000sqft of office space at 1 City Square, which has the highest rental rate of 2011, at £25 per square foot.

In the third quarter of 2011, business centres in Leeds city centre were leasing 115,970sqft of office space to tenants, which is up from 69,140sqft during the same period in 2010. This means that Leeds is now on course to reach 400,000sqft of occupied space by the end of this year.

However, it may not be plain sailing just yet, as the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, is being scrapped in 2012, meaning 20,00sqft of office space will be vacant at their Victoria House headquarters. 

Another set back to contend with may be the abolishment of the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber, which will be vacating their 60,000sqft Lateral Building headquarters next year – although the government intends to backfill this centre immediately.

Even with these obstacles, and the slow development of business centres such as City Square House, Lumiere and Wellington Place, predictions indicate that new occupiers will be on the lookout for office space in early 2012.

Leeds is also the largest centre for financial and business services outside of London, with 116,500 people working within these sectors. This means Leeds is an excellent location for businesses to rent office space.

To find out more about office space in the City of Leeds, talk to Search Office Space now on 0800740 80 80 to discuss your requirements.

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The origins of city names are often lost in translation or to the depths of history. However, areas in Liverpool can be dated back to their first days of discovery, as historians have official documents from the Domesday Book, or knowledge concerning why certain places are called what they are today.

Records of Birkenhead, for example, date back to 1150, when the Mersey Ferry began operating from this location – in modern day Wirral. The name Birkenhead is believed to of come from the Old English word, Bircen, meaning birch tree – of which there were many in the area.

Areas such as Garston and Speke, which are known for their agricultural land as well as their shipping ports, are thought to derive from Old English words. Garston was called ‘Gaerstun’ meaning ‘grazing settlement’, and Speke (pronounced Speak), was once known as ‘Spec’ meaning ‘brushwood’.

Some areas of Liverpool, such as St Helens, did not exist as towns until the 19^th century, due to complexities surrounding the Industrial Revolution. However, the name St Helens, dates back to 1552, and is thought to stem from the St Elyns Chapel. Furthermore, Haydock, a village within St Helens is believed to come from Celtic origins – ‘Heidd’ and ‘Heidiog’ meaning ‘barley/wheat’. The village is also colloquially known as ‘Yick’ and its inhabitants as ‘Yickers’.

Being a major port, the inhabitants of Liverpool are hugely diverse, with the oldest African and Chinese community in Europe. During the 20^th century and after World War II, many of these immigrants settled in the inner city area of Toxteth. Natives of Liverpool are known as Liverpudlians, or colloquially referred to as ‘Scousers’, which references a traditional stew dish, known as ‘scouse’.

Liverpool was once again put on the map during the 20^th century, not for its trade or manufacturing industry, but for its music scene – known as ‘Merseybeat’. The 1960’s saw iconic bands including The Beatles, Gerry & the Pacemakers, and The Searchers. This scene was then respectively known as ‘Brumbeat’ in Birmingham and the ‘Tottenham Sound’ in London.

In recent history, Liverpool’s city centre underwent a massive property development, originally known as The Paradise Project, but today as Liverpool ONE. This £920million project helped to transform 42 acres of the city centre into a commercial, residential, leisure and retail hub. New skyscrapers were also erected in the city centre, with West Tower becoming Liverpool’s tallest building at 140m. During this time, Liverpool was named the European Capital of Culture for 2008, along with Stavanger in Norway.

According to the latest quarterly office property market research report by Colliers International, this comes amid the continued easing of occupancy rate.

Average monthly gross rents of Grade A office space in Singapore recorded the third consecutive quarter of moderation in quarter-on-quarter growth at six per cent.

In particular, average monthly gross rents of Grade A office space in the Raffles Place and New Downtown micro-market grew by seven per cent to reach S$10.40 per square foot per month.

This is slightly less than the eight per cent gain recorded in the first quarter this year.

Colliers said the current office market is experiencing a rising supply of space stemmed from the gradual completion of new office developments.

In addition, the widening gap in rental expectations, as a result of landlords continuing to raise asking rents to leverage the up-cycle in the office property market, has started to meet with some resistance from tenants.

This trend has in turn contributed to a moderation in the leasing exuberance.

Looking forward, Colliers said the office sector would continue to be supported by drivers such as the banking and professional services sectors, where corporate hirings are likely to remain on the growth trajectory, due to Singapore’s established infrastructure and strategic location near emerging markets.

Source:channelnewsasia

Find Office Space to rent in Singapore

Ericsson leased the prime office space from real estate firm Pillar Commercial, which just bought the buildings.

“When we purchased this campus, we believed it truly was one of the premier commercial properties in the region, and this commitment from Ericsson is a testament to that belief,” Pillar CEO Manny Ybarra said Monday in a written statement.

Pillar Commercial began working on the Ericsson deal after it had the buildings under contract to purchase, a Pillar spokesman said.

Ericsson already occupies 200,000 square feet in the complex at 2201-2221 Lakeside Blvd.

The company has 1,100 employees in the old Nortel buildings.

“In the past two years, Ericsson has grown from some 2,000 employees to more than 4,000 in the Dallas area,” said Rob Elston, director of external communications for Ericsson North America . “The new space will accommodate roughly 1,400 personnel and is in addition to our North American headquarters in Plano.”

Ericsson’s U.S. operations are owned by the Swedish parent company, which has been in business since the 1800s.

Mike Wyatt and Ken Johnston of Cushman & Wakefield Inc. negotiated the lease for Ericsson with Pillar Commercial.

“This facility, because of Nortel’s prior capital investment in the project, had some of the most robust power and telecommunications infrastructure of any property in the area,” Wyatt said.

Wyatt said he couldn’t provide any further details on the transaction.

John Jacobs, senior vice president of economic development with the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, said Ericsson has had operations in the city since the mid-1980s.

“They seem to be one of the most healthy [firms] and a major survivor in the telecommunications equipment business,” Jacobs said.

The just-signed office lease is one of the largest in North Texas in 2011.

“We look at vacant office space as inventory we can sell,” Jacobs said. “Hopefully, this deal will get the momentum going” in the Telecom Corridor.

Pillar Commercial bought Nortel’s old U.S. headquarters complex out of bankruptcy for more than $43 million.

The 800,000-square-foot office complex has the largest block of vacant space in the Telecom Corridor.

The 16-story office tower and adjoining research and laboratory buildings have been up for sale since early this year.

Along with Ericsson, Avaya Inc. also rents space in the buildings, which were constructed in 1991 and at one time housed thousands of Nortel workers. Nortel filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and has been liquidating assets.

Pillar Commercial has been in business since 2004 and specializes in purchasing and repositioning underperforming commercial properties.

Staff writer Victor Godinez contributed to this report.

Source:dallasnews

Find Office Space in Richardson, Dallas

The Hawk Creative Business Park in historic York, North Yorkshire provides eco-friendly and sustainable office space for those seeking an environment that stimulates creative and productive thinking.

Business Centre

The centre consists of 15 business units/ office spaces ranging in size from 400 sq ft to 130, 000 sq ft with flexible rental packages available. There is also an on-site gym, lecture theatre, easy access for disabled persons and car parking for both employees and visitors. Virtual offices can also be rented here for those wishing to reduce costs.

Sustainability

• Central Heating- powered by locally grown wood from the sustainable short rotation coppice on site.
• Passive Cooling- Sustainably designed interior and exterior to prevent the need for costly air conditioning Ventilation is controlled by the latest hi-tech computer systems.
• Low Energy Lighting- Environmentally friendly light bulbs used with adjustable light levels.
• Grey Water- roof water is collected and recycled to provide water features and toilets.

Location

Hawk Creative Business Park is surrounded by beautiful countryside- lakes, wooded areas and walking trails; an ideal working location away from the noise, congestion and pollution of traditional commercial centres. York town centre is located approximately 20 minutes drive away and the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors are around 25 minutes north of the property.

Further Information

If you are interested in renting office space at the Hawk Creative Business Park or you would like more information, please call us on 0800 740 8080 or visit http://www.searchofficespace.com/uk/office-space/office-ref-10104.html

At SOS> Search Office Space, we encourage environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.

Click here to view The Rainforest Alliances’ Sustainability in the Office brochure.

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‘Thriving, rich in culture and economically diverse’

Leeds has one of the ‘best in value’ office space markets in the whole of Europe and is one of the UK’s leading business locations.

The UK’s third largest city has a diverse economy with strengths in financial services, the legal sector, manufacturing, biotech and the creative industries.

Both Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Leeds are considered top places to study and have exceptional research facilities, which contributes towards the high amount of quality and skilled workers in the city.

In the last 10 years, £3.2 billion has been invested in commercial property in Leeds and there is a further £7.2 billion to be spent on future projects.

SOS> Search Office Space have an extensive list of serviced offices, desk spaces and virtual offices available for rent in Leeds. Click here to view.

Leeds Business Centres

Wellington Place

A new, purpose built property occupying a prominent position on Wellington Place – a new development in the heart of Leeds with a dynamic mix of offices, shops and restaurants along the River Aire. Facilities include, temperature control, state-of-the-art technology, communal break-out and kitchen areas, plus on-demand meeting rooms. Located just a five minute walk from Leeds train station, this property enjoys a prime city centre location close to a variety of art galleries, inspiring public places, piazzas and leisure facilities.

South Parade

A 1930′s art deco building on South Parade which has undergone extensive refurbishment to provide high quality office accommodation. Each floor is approximately 5000 sq. ft. in size and boasts excellent views of the City Centre including South Parade, the Central Library, Museum and Town Hall. The property has been designed to provide easy access for disabled persons and those who work here have access to state-of-the-art technologies such as videoconferencing. Virtual offices can also be rented here. Fantastically located close by to Leeds Art Gallery and only 8 minutes walk from Leeds train station.

Princes Square

A stunning triangular glass building, located in central Leeds, offers serviced offices, furnished to a high standard and available on flexible terms. Additional services provided include secure underground parking, air conditioning, 24hr access and on-demand meeting rooms as standard. The business centre at Princes Exchange is easily reached from the M1, M62 & A1, with convenient access by public transport. Leeds & Bradford Airport are approximately a 30 minute drive from the Centre.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact one of our friendly and experienced consultants today to find out more: 0800 740 8080

A brief history

The name ‘Piccadilly’ dates back to the late 1700’s when a London Tailor named Robert Baker made his living from selling picardilis/ stiff collars. He then bought the piece of land we now call Piccadilly and built a house which was originally named Piccadilly Mansion.

Piccadilly Circus was also the site of a grand house and garden belonging to a Lady Hutton until British architect, John Nash transformed the area in the 1820’s into the thriving Piccadilly Circus we know today.

The first electric adverts appeared in Piccadilly 1910 and from the early 1920’s onwards, billboards were installed on the façade of the London Pavilion and other properties surrounding the area. Only 1 wall of illuminated ads now remains and although unnamed, it is often referred to as ‘Monico’.

Location

Piccadilly Circus is an intersection where 5 major roads meet and in the center space, lies the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and the Statue of Eros. The area is surrounded by beautiful architecture and theatres such as the Criterion Theatre, major retailers and world renowned museums, such as the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts.

Leicester Square, Green Park, Soho and the West End are also only a short walk away. Starting from the heart of Piccadilly and walking down the A4/ Piccadilly Place leads to Green Park after about 10 minutes- a beautiful area of wooded meadows, mature trees and different species of bird.

Piccadilly Circus tube station, now connected to the London Pavilion lies at the heart of Piccadilly. Other nearby tube stations include: Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria, Jubilee lines), Oxford Circus (Central, Bakerloo, Victoria lines), Leicester Square (Piccadilly, Northern lines) and Tottenham Court Road (Central, Northern lines).

Piccadilly Circus Business Centres

Along with the West End, SOS> Search Office Space has found that Piccadilly Circus has always been a popular spot to rent serviced office space. Click here to view our extensive list of business centres in Piccadilly- from beautiful listed buildings to properties overlooking the landscaped gardens of the Royal Academy of Arts

One of my favourites is the environmentally focussed and sustainable business centre on Broadwick Street between Piccadilly Circus and Soho. The interior has been artistically designed to create a fun and vibrant atmosphere housing state-of-the-art equipment and a fantastic range of services. The property was also one of the first carbon neutral business centres in Britain!

Vibrant, exciting and rich in history; London attracts more international visitors than anywhere else in the world and stands today as a world leader for international finance and business. England’s capital is a unique blend of old and new- a collaged timeline of Roman ruins sitting side by side with contemporary high-rises and gothic architecture juxtaposed with chic stream lined towers. (2)

The City of London

The City of London or the broader area surrounding Bank, Liverpool Street and Chancery Lane is where the City began in AD50 and is now one of London’s most thriving areas, home to some of the City’s tallest buildings. Heron Tower is the newest addition, designed by renowned architects KPF. Entrance into the property is through a triple height arcade with an impressive reception area, now home to Europe’s largest privately owned aquarium, containing over 1000 fish. (3)

The famous Landmark Gherkin building, also known as 30 St Mary Axe is the City of London’s second tallest building and London’s first ‘environmentally progressive’ business centre, which provides stunning panoramic views of the city skyline. The Gherkins attractive plaza with Arcadian garden is also open for members of the public to enjoy. Current occupiers of the property include Swiss Re, Kirkland and Ellis. (4)

Westminster

South west of the City of London is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Westminster, home to the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey and also one of London’s most popular places to live, work and visit. Unlike the City of London, Westminster has a surprisingly large residential population of a predominantly working class community, living in council and Peabody Trust estates at the back of Westminster Abbey and off Millbank. (5)

Westminster is a favourite spot for those searching for serviced office space through SOS> Search Office Space and it’s not surprising why. Situated only a short 10 minute walk across Westminster Bridge Road is the exciting world of the Thames River Walk; home to the Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Royal Festival Hall. To the west of Westminster is the beautiful 58 acre St James’s Park, filled with beautiful plants and landscaped garden areas and many wild breeds of ducks and birds.

Transport

Both the City of London and Westminster are served excellently by the underground and overground. Chancery Lane (Central line), Bank (Central, Northern, Circle, District and DLR Lines), and Liverpool Street (Hammersmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan and Central lines) are the City of London’s nearest tube stations. London City Airport is only a 20 minute train journey from Liverpool Street station. Westminster is conveniently served by both Westminster (Jubilee, Circle and District lines) and St James’s Park (Circle and District lines) tube stations.

London Office Space Market 2011

Research put together by DTZ shows that in 2010, Office space rental increased by 21% in the City of London and by 9% in London’s West End. The rises were due to a combination of rental growth due to decreasing supply of quality space and the effect of a change in local property taxes.

Globally, the most expensive place to rent office space in the world is now Hong Kong. London (City) was ranked 8^th on the list and London’s West End 2nd. Geneva, Tokyo, Zurich, Paris and New York were other cities featured in the top 10.

DTZ predict that London’s West End will retain its position (until 2015) as the second most expensive place to rent office space in terms of occupancy costs per workstation. However occupancy costs outside of London will grow at a much slower pace. (6)

References:

1. http://www.visitthecity.co.uk/

2. http://www.herontower.com/

3. http://www.30stmaryaxe.com/

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster

5. http://wikitravel.org/en/London

6. DTZ Research: Global Occupancy Costs- Offices 2011

The library will be moving to a 2-storey house on 49 Madbury Road, which will  house up to 100 people and provide more computer stations for the public and comfortable office space for librarians . The current space will be tripled to form a new 10, 500 sq ft library, expected to open up to the public by 2013.

Library Director, Tom Madden said, “A new larger library has been a widely recognized Town need for many years, and is an essential investment in the future. Certainly, fourteen years after moving into temporary headquarters at the Mill Plazam, a proper new library is long overdue”.

Madden also said, “The response has been as positive as it can get. People have given wonderful suggestions including making the library green and putting in a cafe.”

Libraries are an important part of any community and it is encouraging to hear that Durham, NH are celebrating it and enforcing the idea that their library is a vital part of the town.

One Durham Resident summed it up pretty well by saying, “This could be the center of town. The importance of having a facility that brings people together is as important as access to the printed word.”

The Government believe that Google can help with economic growth throughout the nation and that technology could play an important role in helping the country’s economy to recover. There has been recent talk of Google expanding their presence further in London.

The UK Government said, “Our ambition is to bring together the creativity and energy of Shoreditch and the incredible possibilities of the Olympic Park to help make East London one of the world’s greatest technology centres”. The aim is to have Tech- City span from Shoreditch to the 2012 Olympic Games site.

In 2008, there were as little as 15 high-tech companies in London’s Tech-City. There are now approximately 200 companies occupying the area, making the ICT sector in the UK the largest in Europe, employing more than 1 million people and contributing more than £66.4 billion to the UK economy.

The Economist said, “Britain does not have a technology focussed venture-capital industry anything like as bounteous as that which serves Silicon Valley. What is needed above all, is simply more success stories. American investors are keen on hi-tech start-ups because they have seen many grow into world-beaters. Until East London produces its own Facebook or Apple, British investors will be nothing like as bullish”.

Will the UK’s technology sector always be dwarfed by the US’s? Arm is the british microchip company who designed the ‘brains’ behind Apple’s iPad. The Telegraph said that Arm is “A UK company we can be proud of”. The company recently launched a microprocessor design which it claims will lead to a new generation of ‘super smartphones’. Arm says that the new chip will allow Apple and other handset makers to design phones with ‘five times the brainpower’.

Is there hope or is it too late? America has had a head start and the companies are bigger than in the UK. One broker said, “British technology companies that become big and successful are eventually taken over by even bigger and richer overseas competitors. It’s a cycle that will be difficult, if not impossible, to break”.

Alternatively, Mike Townend, IP Group, said, “American investors have always been more supportive of technology companies than their British counterparts, although attitudes are slowly changing on this side of the Atlantic.”

Perhaps the success of Tech-City is about collaboration. After all, Google are expanding successfully in the UK and Facebook have  recently agreed to create a permanent home in East London with the intention of bringing together and inspiring the most talented developers and entrepreneurs in the UK.

Surely the future should be about the sharing of ideas and expertise and watching success happen naturally as a result of global collaboration rather than resistance and competition.