The Architects Design Group (ADG), Bright solicitors and Pillar Land Securities have completed the purchase of five-storey Durley House on Millbay Road, opposite the New Continental Hotel.
The three companies who have driven the project forward will relocate from their current premises at the Tamar Science Park and Sutton Road, to the new building, with ADG and Brights taking a floor each and Pillar Land Securities occupying another part of the building.
The remainder will be available to let with the ground floor already under offer.
Subject to planning permission, the former social security offices will be transformed through significant investment in a major renovation programme.
Ian Potts, managing director of ADG, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring the Architects Design Group back into the heart of the city and breathe new life into a tired and dated building. As a Plymouth business we are proud to be investing in the city and look forward to welcoming our clients to our new home.”
Andy Price, founder and partner at Bright solicitors said: “This is an exciting project to be involved with and an opportunity for us to work closely with like minded companies. This, coupled with the planned regeneration for the west end of the City and the forward thinking development of the Millbay area, enables Brights to be part of the future of this part of Plymouth.”
Richard Pillar, chairman of Pillar Land Securities said: “We are delighted to have completed what has been a complicated and protracted purchase of such a prominent city centre building. We would like to thank the other professionals who have been involved in making this purchase possible, King Sturge, Stratton Creber, Ward Williams and the commercial team at Nat West for all their support and patience throughout the whole process.”
The plans for the building will transform the external appearance and provide internally a modern, bright and vibrant working environment.
Durley House – which is being renamed Studio 5-11 to reflect its address of 5-11 Millbay Road – has 28,000 sq ft of office space and 62 car parking spaces and is being sold by Land Sec Trillium.
The 1970s building has previously been singled out by the city council as having a ‘negative’ impact on the Hoe Conservation Area because of its appearance.
A planning application has been submitted for extensive renovations that would include:
• larger double-glazed aluminium windows to let more light into the building, with occasional coloured glass
• complete re-cladding, including white thermal rendering over the brickwork between the windows to improve the appearance and reduce heat loss
• a brise soleil to the rear to prevent the building over-heating in the summer
• thermal, cavity and roof insulation
• renewable energy features such as photovoltaic cells
• internal refurbishment including floors and staircases
• re-use of some internal features where possible, including lighting
If planning permission is granted work to transform the building would start in early April with ADG, Brights and Pillar Securities expecting to relocate to their new home in August.
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