Orange is kicking off a new nation-wide sales and retail concept in Birmingham, which could see it taking up to 18,580 sq m (200,000 sq ft) across the UK.
ALIGN=”JUSTIFY”>Telecommunications giant has put Land Securities 1,880 sq m (20,240 sq ft) Caxton House development in solicitors’ hands and is believed to be looking set up a pilot project for its new sales concept there.
Unusually, Caxton House features a restaurant unit of some 371 sq m (4,000 sq ft) and adjoins an established rental pitch on Fore Street in the city centre. This could offer an opportunity for the telecoms company to run a cybercafe-type concept, open to the public, with sales, administration and corporate services accommodation above.
A spokeswoman for Orange said she would not comment on its new sales concept and was unable to confirm or deny anything to do with Caxton House. A spokesman for Landsec also refused to comment.
However, if its new project is successful, Orange could be set to target major city centres across the UK with similar-sized office and retail requirements.
Orange is rapidly expanding. Its basic retail concept, known as The Shop, is now established in most large population centres and the company is still looking for units in sub-regional shopping centres, such as Merry Hill in the West Midlands. It hopes to open up to 40 outlets of between 37 and 139 sq m (400 and 1,500 sq ft) nation-wide. Its last major retail acquisition was a unit in Peel’s recently opened Trafford Centre in south Manchester.
It is also looking to consolidate its headquarters operations in north Bristol under one roof. Its 23,225 sq m (250,000 sq ft) requirement is still outstanding.
Caxton House is the only available space left in the first phase of Landsec’s Caxtongate office and retail development. Mostly office space with a restaurant unit, the quoting rent for the accommodation is £107.64 per sq m (£10 per sq ft).
Richard Ellis and Grenville Smith & Duncan are letting agents. King Sturge is advising Orange.
EGi News 17/09/1998
