With green issues very much at the heart of the commercial property agenda, one development has been taking a more environmentally friendly approach to attracting potential occupiers.
Langley Point in Birmingham city centre in Bath Row comprises 44,500 sq ft grade A offices and two rickshaws were recently used to transport property professionals to view progress on the office scheme.
Philippa Pickavance, head of agency in Birmingham for Drivers Jonas said: “We wanted to highlight the extensive green specification Langley Point has and, by using the rickshaws, agents were not only able to travel in an environmentally friendly way, but also experience the convenience of the location in relation to the city centre.
“The building is being designed to a BREEAM Excellent standard, which to those who may not have heard of BREEAM, means it has had a long collaboration in the design process to provide a high standard energy efficient building keeping the occupiers running costs to a minimum. However we have also been able to keep quoting rents £10 per sq ft below top quoting levels in the city.”
Bill Houle, director of Trigram Properties, joint venture developers with Folkes Holdings Ltd, said: “We were able to explain in detail the long term cost and maintenance efficiencies Langley Point will offer to future occupiers. Agents need a real understanding of buildings in order to represent them to potential tenants and the positive response received was that Langley Point is an innovative and unique grade A offering. Finish date is June 2009.
