Tenants Banked for Historic Refurbishment
A fast-growing law firm is the latest business to take up occupation at 33 Bennetts Hill, central Birmingham. This historic Grade 2 listed building was acquired by Stoford Developments from HSBC in 2003 and has since undergone a major £1 million-plus restoration and refurbishment programme to provide over 10,000 sq ft office and studio accommodation.Originally opened in 1838, 33 Bennetts Hill was the first ever branch of the Midland Bank and retains many outstanding features including stained glass, domed ceilings and ornate ceilings in the banking hall.
The refurbishment programme involved numerous specialist contractors including Hayles & Howe, whose previous restoration projects include the ceiling at Windsor Castle.
New occupier BPE Solicitors is a 25-partner commercial legal firm with expanding practices in Cheltenham and Birmingham. Due to sustained growth in Birmingham, it has relocated its City operation to Bennetts Hill from nearby Temple Street.
The firm has just taken possession of 5,790 sq ft of office accommodation on the building’s upper floor. Here, traditional features have been blended with new, high quality installations including a comfort cooling system.
The ground floor banking hall, comprising 4,363 sq ft, was let last year to Webb Gray & Partners Ltd Architects.
“Over the last two years we have transformed this historic building into a superb, contemporary business environment while protecting and enhancing its many distinctive features,” said Dominic Stokes of Stoford.
On behalf of new tenant BPE, partner Adele McDermott said: “BPE’s presence is set to grow considerably in Birmingham over the next three years. Having successfully attracted a number of big-hitting lateral hires, our Bennetts Hill office is ideal for our continued expansion.”
“Our new space reflects the culture of our firm in that it is individual, with lots of unique features and not at all what you would expect of typical law firm.”
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