Socius and Patron Capital have agreed two office leasing deals at their Edward Street Quarter mixed-use development in Brighton to NatWest Group and Knights.
NatWest has taken 2,700 sq ft of space on a 10-year lease and legal and professional services group Knights has signed for 7,500 sq ft, also on a 10-year lease.
They join Octopus Energy in the workspace element of the scheme, which signed for 82,000 sq ft across three buildings earlier this year. The scheme’s 110,000 sq ft of workspace has just reached completion and is now 90% let.
The £120m scheme also offers 40,000 sq ft of leisure and amenity space and 168 new homes.
Barry Jessup, managing director at Socius, said: “The fact that the workspace at Edward Street Quarter is close to being fully let at completion vindicates our bold strategy to press ahead with Brighton’s largest speculative commercial development for 25 years during the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Brighton is one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most vibrant cities but continues to be hindered by an acute undersupply of high-specification workspace, with just 3% of existing office stock achieving an EPC A rating.
“Our approach was to deliver market-leading space, achieving the highest possible benchmarks for sustainability and wellbeing, and creating roof terraces and green public realm that support modern agile working. The long-term commitments from Octopus Energy, NatWest Group and Knights underlines the exceptional nature of the workspace.”
Kevin Cooke, development director at Patron Capital, added: “Edward Street Quarter has set a new standard for workspace in Brighton. Not only has it delivered much-needed Grade A, energy efficient workspace to the city, but its provision of new housing, retail, leisure and dining amenities has created a place that will drive footfall and create an iconic new hub of activity in the city.
“To reach practical completion with just under 10% of space available is a strong endorsement of the strategy we set out with Socius for this development, as well as its execution, and we look forward to welcoming occupiers, residents and visitors to Edward Street Quarter in the near future.”
SHW and Cushman & Wakefield advised the landlords on the lettings.
