Newcastle Grade II office building's £500k refurbishment almost complete

A Grade II listed building on Newcastle’s Collingwood Street that has been undergoing a major refurbishment is planning to be completed this week.

A boutique style refit has been offered to the Newcastle office, giving it a ‘taste of Mayfair’.

No.2 Collingwood Street, the building under construction, is a prominent five-storey office overlooking St. Nicholas’ Cathedral.

Newcastle-based Silverstone Building Consultancy was initially instructed to project manage a full refurbishment of the ground floor office suites, the common areas and the basement last year.

The specialist firm of chartered building surveyors was subsequently instructed on a second phase of works to refurbish the vacant office suites on the mezzanine, first, second and third floors, bringing the total project value to over £500k.

Louise Stewart, associate director at Silverstone Building Consultancy, said: “The entrance area has been completely transformed to create a high-end boutique style reception, in keeping with the age and grandeur of the building.

“The overall quality and style of the fit-out has elevated the building’s profile into something that would not look out of place in the likes of Mayfair, London.”

The historic building was acquired by RPU Group in 2002 and has been held by the Newcastle-based firm as an investment with a range of regional and national businesses in occupation including Specsavers and Rivers Capital.

A spokesperson for RPU Group added: “We are delighted with the transformation of No.2 Collingwood Street. After seeing the result of the first phase of refurbishment we were keen to invest further to bring the remainder of the office suites up to the same high specification.

“Although there is a lack of new office development in the city centre, quality refurbishments such as this offer office occupiers the opportunity to secure a prestigious Newcastle address, with a high quality specification at competitive rents.”

The project follows Silverstone’s award-winning refurbishment of Grey Street’s Gainsborough House last year. The firm has also just completed a major office refurbishment at 26 Mosley Street.

Naylors and Knight Frank are appointed as joint letting agents for 2 Collingwood Street, where there is office accommodation available ranging from 1,000 sq ft to 4,000 sq ft.