Wrenbridge has for the third year running charged to victory and been crowned EG Property Company of the Year in the East of England. It tops off a winning year for the Palmer Capital-backed company, which also won the South East of England award.
For chief executive Ben Coles, the key to success is being active, both on and off the market, and well-funded: “It means that people continue to bring us the deals,” he says.
Its 14-strong Cambridge HQ pushed through 10 deals last year, split equally between the South East and East Anglia. These included the letting of buildings at Gateway 11 business park in Norwich.
But Cambridge has been key to Wrenbridge’s success. In the city, the company bought, gained planning permission and let its scheme on Bene’t Street. Acquiring planning for anything in Cambridge can be a challenge but this particular building – a former Barclays Bank – was listed.
Wrenbridge has subsequently let the ground floor to Zizzi and Cau, and the upper floors to King’s College.
It also bought, let and sold within a month an office building on Coldhams Lane and, in its joint venture with Grosvenor, continues to work on a plan to relocate Cambridge Football Club.
Savills rules again
Savills has been named EG Property Adviser of the Year in the East of England for the second consecutive year.
Led by Rob Sadler, the commercial agency team operates from four officesin the region.
In 2011, Savills was responsible for letting and acquiring more than 360,000 sq ft of space in Cambridge, which is equivalent to 62% of the city’s total take-up.
