After a period of turmoil, Chesterton’s Birmingham office is to relocate from 2,436 sq m (26,219 sq ft) on Colmore Row to the 935 sq m (10,074 sq ft) former Elliot Son & Boyton offices on Waterloo Street which have been vacant since it bought the firm in 1992.
When Chesterton announced its results in March, chief executive Michael Holmes confirmed that Chesterton had a strategy to reduce its regional overheads. It still has leases on 10 empty properties around the UK. Holmes said it was costing them £700,000 pa nationwide.
The news comes after a period of turmoil and two high profile departures from the office in the last seven days. Jeff Moss, director in the investment department, has left Chesterton after 12 years to set up his own investment and development consultancy while Angela Templeton, senior surveyor in office agency, is leaving to join DTZ Debenham Thorpe.
Last month, EGi revealed that up to 15 support staff jobs are under threat in Birmingham as part of an efficiency drive which includes the outsourcing of its IT needs.
Chris Sinclair, director in charge of Chesterton in Birmingham, said that staff had been informed that the office is looking to move from Colmore Row: “With all the various changes, we have reduced the occupancy of the Colmore Row building and we are going through a space planning process, which will, in all probability, result in us making a move.”
He confirmed that the former Elliot Son & Boyton offices were still available and that a move there “would make financial sense.”
He said: “Chesterton’s Birmingham office is using this opportunity (the departure of Moss) to restructure activities in line with our strategic objectives. Marcus Wraight, director, has already joined us to spearhead our business development drive towards the occupier market and Peter Fletcher, director, is to focus more on his asset management activities with investors. Both will be located within agency.”
He added that he would start recruiting to replace Templeton immediately.
EGi News 13/05/99
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