Financial advisors to relocate to former Harrogate council offices following acquisition

A deal has been secured for the sale of the former Harrogate Borough Council offices at Scottsdale House.

Ascot Lloyd, the national firm of independent financial advisors, will be relocating from its current offices on Windsor Court in Harrogate to Scottsdale House on Springfield Avenue.

The relocation will take place once Scottsdale Properties Ltd has purchased the four-storey office building.

Scottsdale Properties Ltd is proposing to redevelop the site and create new Grade A office accommodation, which could accommodate in excess 200 full time jobs with onsite parking.

Since the start of the year, a number of council-owned offices have been sold ahead of the council’s move to a new purpose built Civic Centre on its Knapping Mount site, which is due to open later this year.

In January, the council completed the sale of its Victoria Park House offices on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate to property developer, Hornbeam Park Developments. In addition, this past March the council exchanged contracts on the sale of its Crescent Gardens offices with Adam Thorpe Property Group PLC, through its subsidiary ATP (Crescent Gardens) Ltd.

Councillor Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said: “We are delighted to have exchanged contracts on our Scottsdale House offices with an extremely successful business, which already has a major presence within our town.

“Scottsdale House occupies a fantastic town centre location and the move is great news as it indicates the confidence major businesses have in our local economy by committing to our district for the long term.

“Such moves can have a real positive impact, providing a boost for established businesses, and encouraging other businesses to consider locating in our district.

“The disposal of Scottsdale House, Crescent Gardens and Victoria Park House will also stimulate the local economy through the creation of both permanent and temporary jobs.

“Scottsdale House has served the council well for the last 30 years. However, the council will soon be entering a new chapter in its life with our relocation to a new civic centre. The move will have far reaching benefits for the community by helping us to improve on the excellent service we offer and it will generate over £1m of long term savings every year for the council tax payer.”

Patrick Finnegan from Scottsdale Properties Ltd added: “We are pleased that Scottsdale House is to be retained as offices rather than be converted to residential accommodation.

We see this as being vital in order for the survival and growth of Harrogate Town Centre. Without the continued presence of offices and businesses in the town centre, local shops and services are not sustainable.

“Our plan is that Scottsdale House will offer state of the art facilities. The objective is to create premier offices in the Harrogate area that will help to promote Harrogate itself and attract forward thinking businesses to the area.”