UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP TRANSFORMS HISTORIC GEORGIAN CITY BUILDING INTO SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CENTRE

A Grade II listed Georgian building in the historic heart of Norwich has been brought back to life as a thriving business centre thanks to a partnership between a city property investment company and a leading Norfolk property services firm.

Nearly 10,000 sq ft of attractive office space has been created in Pottergate House by Madone Management LLP, which has worked alongside Arnolds Keys to transform the run-down building into an attractive workspace.

Seven of the eight office suites have now been snapped up, with work nearly complete on the refurbishment of the last suite, which is now being offered to let.

Occupiers including Cooper Lomaz, Tigermar Global, Voluntary Norfolk and Citizens Advice Bureau have relocated to Pottergate House, attracted by the combination of ultra-modern facilities and a characterful, historic building.

After purchasing it at auction in 2023, Madone Management sought the advice of Arnolds Keys to create a strategy for the building, and to market it to potential occupiers once the refurbishment was complete.

“We identified that Pottergate has become an attractive place for businesses; it is a quiet, characterful location right in the centre of the city,” said Arnolds Keys head of commercial agency Nick O’Leary, who led the team advising Madone Management.

“The issue has been creating modern, adaptable office space from historic, often listed, buildings, and doing this requires a deep understanding of the needs of businesses wanting to be located in the city centre.

“Pottergate House lent itself to this kind of refurbishment, and the fact that the building came with secure parking very much added to its appeal.  The transformation has been imaginative and clever, retaining the character of the lovely building, but providing the kind of modern office environment which businesses aspire to.”

The refurbishment has included installing super-fast broadband, perimeter trunking, energy-efficient LED lighting and a secure telephone entry system.

Alex Stevens, director at Madone Management, added, “When Pottergate House came up for auction, we could immediately see its potential in a part of the city which is attracting more and more businesses.

“The challenge was to get the refurbishment right and create something which would really meet the needs of today’s businesses.  Arnolds Keys’ knowledge of the market and expertise in this kind of project has been invaluable in helping us to create something really special.”

Just one suite remains to be occupied, a 667 sq ft first floor office where the refurbishment is now close to completion.  More details can be provided by emailing nick.oleary@arnoldskeys.com.