Member Article

Hoults Yard expansion continues with acquisition of business centre

THE expansion of ‘Hoults Yard hubs’ is continuing after the team behind Newcastle’s creative-tech ‘business village’ acquired a city centre business centre.

The former St Thomas Street Business Centre, the historic stables of Deuchar’s Breweries, has been added to the Hoults Yard portfolio and will be rebranded Haylofts.

The acquisition follows recent additions HYpoint (formerly Gear House) in Gateshead and StationH (formerly the Gilbridge Police Station) in Sunderland, giving the company almost 500,000 sq ft of real estate – with further sites to follow soon. All the branding features a play on the H and Y of Hoults Yard.

“We’re spending about £1.5m on acquiring and redeveloping the site and Haylofts will become a key part of our mission to create Hoults Yard hubs across the region. All of our spaces are properties with personality and Haylofts will be no exception.

“We’ve already had firm interest from software, arts and research firms.

“We’ll be creating 22 new offices plus three boardroom-type spaces around the courtyard area which we envisage as a meeting space and a space for theatrical productions with tiered seating for up to 50 people.

“Haylofts couldn’t be more central - adjacent to the Haymarket transport interchange and so close to Newcastle University’s main campus. It won’t take us long to create the vibrant, supportive business community we’ve established at Byker and is growing at HYpoint.

“The centre will be moving from workshop spaces to trendy offices, perfect for full-time employees or for a shared office environment for coworking. If people from our other sites need a meeting space they can work out of here.”

The 8,000 sq ft St Thomas Street Business Centre was opened by Prince Charles 32 years ago and has been acquired from housing charity Home Group.

“Tyneside and the wider region are in great shape, and that’s what has given us the confidence to invest in HY Hubs. Our offer is good tech infrastructure, top interior styling and friendly front of house,” added Charlie.

The project brings a return for Hoults project manager Chris Roe who joined the team a year ago, having worked for Home Group on the reroofing of Haylofts.

It was this time last year Charlie announced a £4m transformation of a derelict Sunderland police station into StationH. The site will have 45,000 sq ft of rentable space, with space for some 200 workers.

In September, Charlie revealed the acquisition of HYpoint, the former Gear House business centre in Saltmeadows Road, Gateshead. The 20,000sq ft building was originally built as headquarters for Laws Stores, the supermarket chain which became Presto.

More announcements are likely to follow in the New Year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hoults Yard .