Hortons’ Estate Limited lets historic Birmingham city centre office

Hortons’s Estate Limited has agreed to let a newly refurbished Grade II* listed office in Birmingham city centre to a global construction and property consultancy.

WT has agreed a five-year lease for 1,900 sq ft of space on the second floor at The Barwick on Barwick Street in the city’s Colmore Business District.

The independent and privately owned construction and property consultant has chosen to relocate to the boutique style three-storey office building due to the high quality renovation and the building’s position in the centre of Birmingham, in close proximity to the city’s national and regional rail network.

WT is enjoying rapid growth in Birmingham after first establishing a base in the city in 2016 and plans to double its existing regional team again over the next five years. The consultancy is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and draws on the resources of 150 UK staff and 1,300 worldwide with offices throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, Australasia and North and Central America.

Family-owned Hortons’ Estate has invested more than £750,000 in transforming 5,250 sq ft of office space at The Barwick into Grade A self-contained accommodation, as part of The Grand Hotel scheme.

To create the new office space, Hortons’ converted meeting rooms and bedrooms at the former hotel, along with the bar which used to serve the Grosvenor ballroom. The new offices boast original features, including exposed brickwork and beams.

Nina Meeks, management surveyor, Hortons’ Estate, said: “We’re very pleased that WT has chosen to expand its business at The Barwick, and it’s hugely positive to secure a letting of this kind in the current environment. This is a charming and historic property that has been carefully refurbished to provide stunning modern offices. The Barwick offers Grade A accommodation in a superb location just a few minutes’ walk away from Birmingham Snow Hill and Grand Central Station. We’re anticipating considerable interest in the remaining office space.”

Andrew Mannion, Director at WT, said: “The location of The Barwick is perfect within the Central Business District and with such excellent infrastructure on the doorstep.  Once we had viewed The Barwick there really was no alternative. It stood out a mile when compared with the other more traditional office spaces available. Hortons’ Estate has delivered a really high quality renovation and provided a quirky and interesting space, previously being bedrooms in The Grand Hotel. We aim to be in full occupation as soon as lockdown restrictions end.”

The Barwick can be let floor by floor, with 2,173 sq ft of additional suites available on the first floor and 1,165 sq ft on the third floor.