Endurance Estates, the Cambridge-based commercial property developer, has let its first unit at St Ives Business Park, where it is investing £10 million on two new office buildings. Open plan ground floor accommodation of 4174 sq ft in Building Si One has been let to awarding organisation City & Guilds. The lease has now been completed and the new tenants will take occupation when the buildings are completed in September.

According to Endurance Estates Development Director Tim Holmes the letting endorses his commitment to St Ives: “We are delighted to let the first suite to City & Guilds and that confirms our belief that the business park will be attractive to companies seeking new open plan office space in this attractive and well connected market town within close proximity to Cambridge and shortly to be linked to Cambridge by the new Bus Way.”

City and Guilds Facilities Project Manager Suzanne Barnes commented: “We need accessible open plan office accommodation for our customers and learners who can visit the park and where we can hold large meetings.  The space at St Ives Business Park accommodates these goals.”

Cambridge based contractor R G Carter has been awarded the fitting out contract and works will be completed in time for the tenant to occupy at the end of September.  Space of up to 35,000 sq ft is now available.  The letting agents are Barford + Co.

The new buildings are attracting a good deal of interest in addition to City & Guilds says Phil Halmshaw, a Director at Barfords. “Despite the general economic situation, there are still a number of enquiries around for good grade A office accommodation, which is what is being offered by Si One and Si Two,” he says.  “One of the characteristics of the St Ives and Huntingdon area is that there is not an oversupply of good quality office space and when genuine enquiries arise, companies requiring accommodation are not spoilt for choice.”

Adds Phil Halmshaw, “We were able to come up with a creative incentives package which proved attractive to the tenant and which has led to this deal being concluded in advance of practical completion of the buildings”.

Barfords have confirmed that smaller office suites from 900 sq ft are available within Si One. “We are particularly keen to hear from companies with smaller scale office requirements” continued Mr Halmshaw. “The buildings are imposing and give the impression of a Headquarters but have been designed with inherent flexibility to be subdivided into smaller suites”

03.09.09