Member Article

Historic Marble Hall building reports 55% occupancy

Less than four months after opening, the iconic Marble Hall managed workspace scheme has reached 55% occupancy, with a further 8% under negotiation and more new tenants set to be announced in the coming weeks.

The grade-two listed former Rolls-Royce building on Nightingale Road has been the subject of a major £4m refurbishment to transform it into a community hub, with a vibrant managed workspace facility and a range of complementary facilities that are in high demand from the local community.

The building in Osmaston opened its doors to tenants just under four months ago and has already attracted a diverse range of tenants – from new start-ups to established and developing businesses.

Accommodation includes 42 high specification offices, ranging in size from 100 ft2 to 800 ft2. YMCA Derbyshire have recently launched ‘Claudes’, a new on-site kitchen and training provision. A day nursery with the capacity for 16 two - three year olds and 26 three - four year olds is also set to open later in the year.

The stunning penthouse suite will be the new home of city photographers, Cactus Images, who have relocated from their existing studio at Connect Derby’s Friar Gate Studios to enable them to embark on the next stage of their expansion programme.

The early success of Marble Hall can be attributed to its unique location on the outskirts of the city and the unique package of benefits on offer as part of the Connect Derby scheme. This includes flexible lease terms, superfast speed broadband, meeting rooms and a programme of business support and mentoring.

Marble Hall is the first venture for Connect in the Community, a new initiative which aims to attract and support social enterprises, voluntary, community groups and charities to the area, along with new start-ups and growing businesses. It is hoped this will meet the needs of both

Derby’s disadvantaged communities and the Derby economy as a whole.

Speaking of the success of the scheme to date, Councillor Ranjit Banwait, Leader of Derby City Council said:

“To achieve 55% occupancy, with a further 8% under negotiation, within four months of opening is a fantastic achievement and is testament to the fantastic refurbishment work and the vision shown by the regeneration team at Derby City Council to create a facility, which will provide the community with much-needed facilities.

“The scheme is already bringing significant investment to the area, which is good news for everyone.”

Marble Hall is building on the success of the hugely influential Connect Derby scheme, which has created a strong market for serviced offices in the city and forms part of Derby City Council’s commitment to work with the city’s disadvantaged communities.

Connect Derby is a £14.2m project which brings together Derby City Council’s workspaces – Friar Gate Studios, Kings Chambers, Sadler Bridge Studios, Shot Tower, Riverside Chambers (former Magistrates’ Court building on Full Street) and the exciting new iHub innovation centre under one banner to create jobs for local people.

The scheme provides micro businesses, entrepreneurs and SMEs with the high specification working environment, IT infrastructure and business support they need to improve business survival rates and act as a catalyst for expansion and growth. It is also hoped that the project will create further jobs by increasing inward investment to the city.

Anyone interested in taking office space at Marble Hall should contact Ann Bhatti on 01332 258300 (ann.bhatti@derby.gov.uk) or Russell Rigby at Rigby & Co, on 01332 203377 (russellrigby@rigbyandco.com).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Donna Hill .