Orange is being tipped to double its presence at Cobalt Business Park in Newcastle with a second call centre.
Due to rapid expansion, the telecommunications firm is understood to be on the verge of preletting a 6,503 sq m (70,000 sq ft) flagship regional headquarters at Highbridge Properties’ scheme.
Ian Parker, of Chesterton, the joint letting agent for Cobalt with Healey & Baker, said: “We are in discussions with Orange, but nothing’s been signed yet. Orange has a continuous acquisitions programme.”
A source close to the deal said: “This is a very urgent enquiry. Orange wants to put more staff onto Cobalt by the autumn. It may even mean putting them in a portakabin village in the interim.”
However, an Orange spokeswoman denied the rumours. “We’ve no plans to open another call centre at Cobalt Business Park,” she said.
If the deal goes ahead, the building will be located next to Orange’s existing 7,000 sq m (75,345 sq ft) customer service centre at the scheme. The rent is yet to be agreed, but the previous deal with Orange was rumoured to be around £118 per sq m (£11 per sq ft).
EGi News 28/07/00
