BT is considering the combination of its two Bristol requirements into one requirement for up to 18,580 sq m (200,000 sq ft) in the city centre.
Graeme Seaman, property manager at BT, told EGi that the company could see advantages in fusing its two existing requirements. BT is currently looking for an 11,148 sq m (120,000 sq ft) call centre and an 8,361 sq m (90,000 sq ft) headquarters.
The reconfiguration of its requirement would save on occupation costs, said Seaman. “The city centre requirement has a different occupancy rate at different times of the day than a call centre. We could aim to have a certain level of shift working and give a more efficient use of the space.”
Last year, BT cut its Bristol HQ requirement from 13,935 sq m (150,000 sq ft) to 8,361 sq m (90,000 sq ft) following a reassessment of its property needs in the city.
At the same time it confirmed that three sites, Temple Quay, Harbourside and Bristol Bridge, had been shortlisted for new offices under its Workstyle 2000 programme.
The separate search for a call centre of up to 13,935 sq m (150,000 sq ft) resulted in discussions with developer Crest Nicholson about the possibility of a scheme on its Bristol Parkway site, north of the city centre.
However, the three sites (Temple Quay, Harbourside and Parkway), have enough available land to take BT’s revised requirement.
Temple Quay’s ratio of one space per 750 sq ft of offices should meet BT’s car parking needs. The Harbourside site, to be developed as a mixed-use scheme by British Land and Crest Nicholson, offers similar car parking ratios.
Chesterton is advising BT on the call centre requirement. DTZ Debenham Thorpe is acting on the Workstyle 2000 search.
EGi News 07/05/98
