BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions has taken 21,000 sq ft of office space at Midpoint in Basingstoke from Skelton Group Investments, in what is believed to be the largest letting in the town centre for five years.
Leasing Solutions, the asset finance arm of the global French bank BNP Paribas, has taken the fourth floor and part fifth floor on a 10-year lease. The company will relocate its 280-strong workforce from its existing space in Northern Cross, Basing View, to Midpoint later this year.
Skelton Group is upgrading the building’s air conditioning, installing EV charging points and modifying the existing fit out on both floors as part of the deal.
Simon Keefe, director of Skelton Group, said “We are delighted to have secured such an excellent tenant and major Basingstoke occupier for Midpoint. The adaption and reuse of most of the existing fit out has delivered Leasing Solutions with significant financial and environmental savings that could not be achieved elsewhere.
“This letting to Leasing Solutions comes on the back of recent lease renewals with existing tenants Once for All and CARS, leaving only one fully fitted suite of 6,100 sq ft available. The other occupier in the building is global infrastructure and environment consultancy Aecom.”
Rachel Appleton, director at Leasing Solutions, said: “We had been based at our Basing View building since the early 1990’s and we wanted to move to more modern environmentally friendly premises in keeping with our corporate objectives.
“Midpoint ticks all the boxes for us by offering a new and modern reception area, flexible floor plates with good natural light, generous parking and near to the train station and local shops. This coupled with the enhancements being undertaken by Skelton Group as part of the deal made Midpoint the preferred option, and we look forward to our move there later this year’’.
Andrew Newman, of joint letting agents Hollis Hockley, said: “Despite current uncertainties in the office market this deal demonstrates that there continues to be demand for a good quality product in the right location. Availability of good quality space in Basingstoke town centre is limited, particularly in the 10,000-20,000 sq ft range.”
Hollis Hockley and Baker Davidson Thomas were joint letting agents for Skelton Group and Leasing Solutions was represented by BNP Paribas Real Estate.
