Norwich-based developer Targetfollow has confirmed it will turn Birmingham’s Baskerville House into offices and not a hotel as originally planned.
As tipped in Estates Gazette, 23 March, p31, Birmingham’s prime offices shortage has prompted Targetfellow to abandon its plans for a luxury hotel.
Targetfollow has formed a joint venture with Sitac to redesign and extend the city centre building, which formerly housed council offices. Rolfe Judd has been appointed architect on the redesign.
The £50m proposals will increase the site from 85,000 sq ft (8,000 sq m) to 220,000 sq ft (20,438 sq m), with average floorplates of more than 22,000 sq ft (2,043 sq m).
Targetfollow/Sitac have held talks with potential occupiers including the Court Service, which has a 150,000 sq ft (13,935 sq m) requirement.
Law firms Pinsent Curtis Biddle and Lee Crowder have also been in discussions with the jv.
Targetfollow has also been in discussions with Birmingham council over a car park next to Baskerville House, which is believed to be worth around £8m and which the council is considering selling for redevelopment.
Ian Fox, director of Targetfollow, said: “Naturally we’d be interested in that site – there’s possibilities to link it in with Baskerville House.
“We’ve looked at it and considered it.”
Paul Spooner, the council’s economic development director, confirmed that the council wants the car park to be redeveloped as part of its £800m Paradise Circus regeneration scheme.
Paradise Circus would include 2m sq ft (185,800 sq m) of offices with ancillary retail, leisure and homes.
Birmingham’s Central library and Music Conservatoire would relocate to the city’s Eastside district under the Paradise Central plans.
Meanwhile, a joint venture between Miller Developments and Hampton Trust is in discussions with potential occupiers for the first (office) phase of its £450m Arena Central scheme – directly opposite Baskerville House – which has a 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) speculative element.
Work on both Baskerville House and Arena Central is set to be completed in the second half of 2004.
EGi News 11/07/02
