Commercial Property
Riverside site
A 1930s Grade II-listed property in Maidstone could be given a £30 million facelift, if planning permission is granted. Private developers Classicus Estates have put in an application to restore Len House, the former Rootes Building, to create homes for discerning people with a love of history. If permission is granted by Maidstone Borough Council, the building beside the River Len will be converted into 159 homes above commercial space on the ground floor. The original Crittall windows and interiors will be carefully restored and retained, but new features will include solar panels on the roof and a two-storey extension. Part of the agreement for planning permission
will be to carry out ecological and biodiversity work to protect wildlife and minimise flood risk from the river. Owner of Classicus Matthew Brett-Chaponnel said: “Len House is an iconic, modernist piece of architecture and our plans to redevelop will ensure its long-term sustainable future. The planning application aims to keep as much of the original property in place as possible, while enhancing and adding to the building with a new design and build which will complement Len House’s heritage, character and charm. Designs for the project have been completed by architects Hollaway to preserve the appearance of the building, a former garage and car sales business.
Hub appeal Building services consultants IWA are bucking the national trend and moving offices. As many businesses opt to stay put until the dust settles after lockdown, IWA – which designs heating, lighting, water, drainage and other mechanical and electrical systems for property developers and architects – moved into offices at Pacific House, on Eastbourne’s Sovereign Harbour Innovation Park. IWA had been based in the town centre for 20 years, but director Phil Erridge said it was time to find more modern, flexible offices. He said: “I looked at various options in Eastbourne and the surrounding area, but Pacific House clearly stood out. The communal feel of being part of a vibrant business hub is highly appealing. The building has a contemporary feel and the shared facilities including reception and meeting spaces make great sense for a firm like ours.”
Virtual viewing An interactive video tour of offices in Bexhill will allow prospective tenants to view what’s on offer from a safe distance. Sea Change Sussex has produced the virtual tour of High Weald House on the Bexhill Enterprise Park, with the option to move around spaces, or see the whole in “doll’s house” format. High Weald House was designed by architects AHR to high environmental standards. It has plenty of parking and an atrium for break-out meetings.
Surrey Chambers of Commerce has been supporting businesses on the frontline as the “first responders” on the ground for the past 18 weeks. We had to furlough a couple of team members, as our events programme came to a halt – and with it any income. As a result, we have focused all our resources on our members, talking to them and helping direct them to government advice and support. We are supported by a strong business board, led by an MD of a successful IT company (projectfive), so we have seen first-hand the all-encompassing effect of this crisis. Our dedicated team made more than 2,000 meaningful engagements with the Surrey business community. We used these discussions to collate intelligence and to feed directly through to key stakeholders, including our local enterprise partnerships (LEPs), British Chambers of
Commerce (BCC) and local authorities, to help share local and regional responses to the crisis. We have organised over 40 webinars, in partnership with many of our members, continuing to offer a range of relevant content that will empower businesses and provide much needed support during these times. One of the really heartening things has been the way businesses have pulled together helping one another at this difficult time and we have been able to facilitate much of this sharing of support. Do you remember Brexit? What used to be a significant topic within my column over the last three years has taken a back seat. However, we are hurtling towards the 1 January, 2021, when full border controls will be in place at all ports, regardless of any deal that is agreed with the EU. An estimated 200 million more declarations will need to be made by traders annually, when importing and exporting to and from the EU. Surrey Chambers, along with the national network of chambers, is preparing to support this massive
August/September 2020 | www.southeastbusiness.com
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change with some excellent training, ensuring that local businesses have the skills to understand exports and export documentation. We urge businesses to talk to us about their needs. We are also building the capacity in our team to ensure we are ready to support businesses with the changes to documentation when needed.
CONTACT Louise Punter, chief executive, Surrey Chambers of Commerce @surreychambers
