IBM has joined forces with Welbeck Land to submit plans for a £25m mixed-use scheme on a 7.6ha (18.78 acres) site adjoining its headquarters in Portsmouth.
After lengthy talks with Portsmouth council, the company is proposing 18,580 sq m (200,000 sq ft) of offices, a four-star hotel with conference facilities and a Next Generation tennis and health club.
John Trustram-Eve of IBM’s agent GVA Grimley, said the office development would be phased, with an initial 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft) built speculatively.
Trustam-Eve said that IBM, which has 65,030 sq m (700,000 sq ft) of offices on the adjoining site, would not be taking any space.
The site has lain empty since IBM bought the land in the 1960s and has seen a range of previous plans for development founder. Grimley believes that earlier difficulties involving access have been resolved by a planned new road development.
EGi News 09/10/00
