Savills Birmingham has announced it is relocating its head office to 55 Colmore Row.
It has taken a 15-year lease for 16,956 sq ft at the building, where IM Properties has undertaken a £33m back-to-frame redevelopment. All 156 staff will move from its existing offices at Innovation Court and The Exchange in late 2017.
It also announced Barry Allen will step down as Birmingham’s office head in November and hand over his role to director Simon Farrant, who was managing director of GBR Phoenix Beard before it was bought by Savills last year.
VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE LOBBY/RECEPTION
Allen, who has been office head for 20 years, will continue his role within the firm and expand his national role within its development team.
Allen said: “The acquisition of GBR Phoenix Beard last year further strengthened our position in the market, and I am pleased to be handing over the baton to Simon.
“I will use this opportunity to focus entirely on my development role, supporting clients to deliver excellent results for the numerous high-profile schemes in which we are involved within the Midlands and across the UK.”
TOP FLOOR OFFICE SPACE
Farrant was managing director at GBR for eight years, before which he set up the lease consultancy department at Phoenix Beard, which he joined in 1987.
He played a key role in the firm’s merger with GBR in June 2010 and its purchase of Optic Asset Management in January 2015.
Allen began his career in Birmingham in 1980 and established Savills’ Birmingham office in 1998, overseeing its growth from the original team of four into one of the firm’s largest offices outside of London.
Farrant said: “This is an exciting time for Birmingham, which has established a truly global profile, and we are extremely well-positioned to advise on the growing opportunities in the city and wider region.”
Watch a video tour of 55 Colmore Row
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