Admiral House, Station Plaza, Newport
Combined investment, development and leasing advice resulting in sale and profit to client

Article by

Graham Davies
Director
Investment Agency

(029) 20 346346

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Sector: Offices

Services: Investment Agency; Office Agency; Development Land

Client: Scarborough Development Group

 

THE PROBLEM

  • Major city centre redevelopment site adjacent to Newport railway station
  • Recessionary period of 2012/13 as the scheme was evolving and Newport was a challenging location in which to build a new Grade A 80,000 sq ft office

 

THE SOLUTION

  • Cooke & Arkwright provided Client with occupational and development advice from outset
  • Cooke & Arkwright advised the Client on investment implications of leasing terms agreed in negotiations with Admiral Insurance
  • Cooke & Arkwright worked jointly with CBRE to give both an international and regional overview of the prevailing market conditions and put in place a comprehensive investment marketing campaign

 

THE RESULT

  • Cooke & Arkwright successfully negotiated a sale of the completed 80,000 sq ft office investment to WP Carey in September 2014
  • Sale price achieved reflected a £1.75m premium over the quoting price, as a result of competitive bidding generated
  • Delivered client sale of the property simultaneous with practical completion and signing of lease to Admiral, releasing their money on time

Mansford has expanded its investment portfolio over the last few years. Over this time Andrew West has provided us with a full rating valuation service which has involved giving a view on liabilities prior to acquisitions, as well as conducting negotiations with Valuation Officers on our UK estate. The portfolio includes a wide range of properties from shops, offices and pubs to major leisure schemes. He has been particularly successful in mitigating our liabilities to empty property rate, which has been an issue on acquisition prior to implementing our development and letting strategy. I have no hesitation in recommending Andrew's expertise in rating valuation for all property types. The profile of property within his portfolio and the successes achieved are testament to his position as an extremely accomplished rating practitioner.

Leopold Hall, Partner, Mansford LLP