Access control can benefit companies and buildings of all sizes.
The area to the north of Cardiff Central train station has undergone extensive development over several years, and is preparing to house many new occupants by the end of the year. Here is a broad summary of the buildings and companies involved.
No. 2 Central Square
This building has been fully let to the law firm Hugh James and Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies (Jomec).
Hugh James will be using around 100,000 sq ft, and the university school has the rest of the office space. Their leases are for 25 years at an annual rent of about £25 per square foot of space.
Jomec will be moving into the building from mid-September, before the students enrol on September 24, and the Hugh James law firm will be moving in on October 22.
BBC Headquarters
The Foster & Partners designed building is split over five storeys and totals 180,000 sq ft. The BBC has signed up to a 20-year lease for the building with its owner Legal & General at an initial cost of around £4m a year with a rent review every five years.
As is common with property deals of this scale, the public service broadcaster will have an initial rent free period.
A BBC Wales spokesperson said:
"Staff [approximately 1,200] will begin the move to the new building in the autumn of 2019 and it will be fully operational in 2020.”
About 9000 square feet of space is available for retail rent. Tesco, Greggs, Boots and Pret a Manger have been lined up to occupy the space.
The Interchange
This building will offer new office space and 300 private residential apartments as well as a new bus station with 14 stands within a concourse area of more than 10,000 sq ft, as well as a cycle hub for 144 bikes. There are six retail units planned for the ground floor.
The office and apartment space are not due to finish construction until midway through 2021, but the buas station could possibly be operational in late 2020.
Above the bus station there is 100,000 sq ft of office space rising to six storeys, which is already attracting interest from potential inward investment projects into Wales.
HMRC Headquarters
The HMRC intends to move into its new HQ at Central Square in 2020, in the first phase of a public sector hub that will employ 4,000 people.
HMRC, which currently has its main tax office in Wales in the Llanishen area of Cardiff, has signed up to a new 266,000 sq ft building in a major pre-let deal.
The 12 storey building, which will be known as 6 Central Square, is currently being built by construction firm Robert McAlpine.
The move is part of a property rationalisation programme which will deliver over £1bn of savings to the taxpayer, free up land for housing and reduce UK Government buildings from 800 to around 200 by 2022.
No. 5 Central Square
This new building will be on the site of St David’s House and work on demolishing the unattractive 120, 000 sq ft building will begin in January with contractor Sir Robert McAlpine.
Planning permitted, the site has been earmarked for a new 150,000 sq ft grade A office scheme and a public square.
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