Member Article

Bauer Media to relocate its West Midlands hub to 54 Hagley Road

Media giant Bauer, the name behind radio stations including KISS, Hits Radio, Absolute Radio and Planet Rock, has announced the move of its West Midlands hub to 54 Hagley Road, the landmark office complex in Edgbaston.

The building will become home to Birmingham station Free Radio and Greatest Hits Radio Midlands as well as also a presence for Bauer’s other brands. Relocating from Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Bauer will take a 10-year lease for 3,652 sq ft on part of the ninth floor of the Hagley Road building.

A floor in the building is currently being fitted out with a state-of-the-art studio and vocal booths, with all existing programming, sales and charity teams to move in the new year.

Gary Stein, group programme director for the Hits Radio Brand Network, said: “As an audio business, live radio is at the heart of what we do at Bauer and we continually invest in our facilities to ensure that our teams can create the best content possible for our audiences and customers alike. We’re excited by the new chapter this move marks for Bauer in the UK’s second city, particularly as it gears up to host the likes of the Commonwealth Games in 2022.”

Richard Williams, joint letting agent for 54 Hagley Road, said: “After a busy few months of welcoming new occupiers to the building we are pleased to have secured Bauer Media as the latest member of our increasingly diverse tenant community.

“The £3 million investment, which was completed at the beginning of the year, has resulted in a vibrant, contemporary environment that offers superb facilities for all modern-day business needs and this is clearly resonating with businesses when they visit.”

Last month, profit-for-good BHSF, a Birmingham-based health and wellbeing company, moved its 150 staff from nearby Darnley Road, after agreeing a three-year lease for 3,900 sq ft on the 13th floor.

The ground-floor refurbishment of 54 Hagley Road, which is owned by abrdn, created new amenities including generous break-out spaces, new large reception area, open-plan cafe/business lounge, meetings and conference rooms, fitness studio with locker and shower facilities and extensive bicycle stores.

It also introduced its ‘plug and play’ suites for smaller businesses, providing fully furnished suites for companies to move in and begin work immediately without substantial upfront costs.

It has recently achieved Platinum WiredScore status, making it one of the best buildings in the country for broadband and telecom infrastructure.

WiredScore is the global digital connectivity rating system, which assesses buildings according to how fast and reliable their internet is. Platinum, its highest-awarded mark, demonstrates that a building meets exceptional standards for the quality of its wired infrastructure, resilience and wireless network.

54 Hagley Road is well connected, with a new Metro stop immediately outside due to open later this year, providing access to Birmingham New Street within a few minutes. The building also lies outside the planned Clean Air Zone (CAZ).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kate Cooke .