NEW office space aims to accommodate Leamington’s rapidly expanding digital creative scene.
Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC) Holly Walk House, on Brandon Parade, is to be refurbished thanks to funding of £500,000 from the Government’s Getting Building Fund. The funds will be organised through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP).
WCC will also submit some £500,000 to the project which involves transforming approximately 5,500 sq ft of office space over three floors, previously occupied by WCC’s Adult and Children’s Services.
Holly Walk House is a pair of Grade II listed semi-detached buildings, dating from around 1843, joined and converted into offices in the 1970s.
The project aims to protect the historic nature and charm of the property while creating modern flexible work spaces.
Contractor Sandell Group will be starting on site this month with completion due in May.
Leamington is home to the largest cluster of video game developers, by economic value, outside of greater London according to national trade body Ukie, with a core of 50 businesses around the town. Its significant growth in the last 18 months has created around 500 new jobs in the region.
WCC finance spokesman Peter Butlin said their was particular need for space to accommodate the sector.
He added: “Our inward investment team is actively working with a number of businesses that are looking for office space of this type and size, and Holly Walk House will offer space for these businesses to expand and grow, and is an attractive addition to the business premises that the County Council already offer in their portfolio.”
CWLEP chair Sarah Windrum said: “Many digital creative businesses have continued to grow despite the pandemic and these purpose-designed offices in Holly Walk will provide the space many companies need to expand further in the area.
“Strengthening Coventry and Warwickshire’s global reputation as a cluster of digital creative talent to support growth and attract investment is one of the key pillars of CWLEP’s Strategic Reset Framework.
“Projects such as this – funded through the Getting Building Fund – will help our existing innovative businesses retain highly-skilled employees as well as entice more marketing of the offices will start later in the year, but the Warwickshire County Council is expecting early interest from companies wishing to lease the new accommodation.”
