Telereal Trillium agrees sale with Cardiff University

Acquisition will facilitate development of world-class facilities

30 May 2018

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24 May 2018 – Telereal Trillium announced the sale of a 10-acre site to Cardiff University for future development of its College of Biomedical and Life Sciences. The site, on St Agnes Road in Gabalfa, is located two miles north of the City Centre and adjacent to the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) Heath Park campus.

In an off market sale, Cardiff University was advised by commercial property specialists, Cooke & Arkwright on the acquisition of the freehold of the site in an agreement which will see the existing tenants, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) occupying the premises under a new three year lease until 2021, to be managed by Telereal Trillium.

Cardiff University has acquired the site to fulfil long-term strategic development ambitions for its College of Biomedical and Life Sciences including the potential to create new teaching, research and development space.

Mark Kelly, Director of Sales & Development at Telereal Trillium said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement on the sale of the Gabalfa site that suits all parties; facilitating DWP’s future move and opening up exciting possibilities for the development of new facilities at the University’s College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, which will retain the site’s profile as a place of employment.”

Dev Biddlecombe, Director of Estates and Campus Facilities at Cardiff University, said: “This long-term strategic acquisition will enable us to build upon the world leading research and teaching in our College of Biomedical and Life Sciences.”

Michael Lawley, Chairman of Cooke & Arkwright, said: “We are very pleased to have advised on what was a complex and delicate transaction to acquire this significant and strategic site for the University. The planned investment in this facility is excellent news for Wales.”

Cooke & Arkwright have been providing rating valuation advice to The Welsh Rugby Union Limited (“WRU”) and Millennium Stadium plc for many years. They were recently successful in achieving substantial reductions in the assessments of the Millennium Stadium, covering both the 2005 and 2010 rating list. These negotiated reductions yielded savings of c.£3.5m which, crucially, allows the WRU to re-invest in rugby throughout Wales. They advise the WRU across the group portfolio including the National Centre of Excellence in the Vale of Glamorgan. The valuation issues across the WRU portfolio are complex requiring a high level of understanding of the funding and finances of professional sport in Wales. Cooke & Arkwright’s experience and understanding of these issues and application to the rating valuation have yielded these substantial negotiated reductions. The WRU and the Millennium Stadium entrust our work to organisations with the required levels in experience and expertise in dealing with these complex issues. I am glad to say we have this expertise in Wales. I would have no hesitation in recommending ratepayers making use of this Welsh based expertise.

Steve Phillips, Group Finance Director, Welsh Rugby Union Group