Work is underway on a £2million office refurbishment of Hind House in Neath.
Hind House the 3 storey building has recently been renamed Market Chambers due to its location on the site of the Old Market.
The refurbishment is being carried out by Neath Properties and Flexi Offices UK and will provide over 14,000sq ft of office space in a prime location in the centre of the town.
The new development which is due to be completed by July 2010 is supported by Neath Port Talbot Council and funded through the Welsh Assembly Government.
It will provide local businesses with an extensive choice of flexible offices and modern facilities. The facility will also give businesses a chance to link up with a receptionist, secretarial and telephone answering services.
The redevelopment of the building itself will achieve one of the highest BREEAM ratings for use of environmentally friendly and sustainable materials.
The modern design and internal fittings of the building include a state-of the-art heat recovery air conditioning system, and a WiFi and VOIP phone system.
The exterior of the building will have new cladding and a new roof to provide a sleek modern facade. It will also have a new entrance to the offices opening onto The Parade and the shop fronts will be redesigned to the existing shops at ground level.
Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Ali Thomas, said, “This is very good news for Neath. We welcome this opportunity as it adds new office space for businesses in the area. It is great that Neath Properties and Flexi Offices have invested in Neath as it shows confidence in the area and it also adds to the aspirations for the Neath Town Centre development.”
Neil Humphries, director of Flexi Offices UK, explains why his company chose Neath and the benefits for businesses choosing to rent space in Market Chambers. “The central location of Market Chambers immediately attracted us to the building. The building itself was ideal to be redeveloped and transformed into a centre for business. When we researched the local economy, we identified a requirement for a facility that can provide both start-ups and established businesses with a flexible range of offices with the option for them to take more space as they grow and develop. We will be offering tenants the option of short-term contracts and the ability to move into offices with all the facilities installed so they can literally start work immediately.”
Bearing in mind the current economic climate, “we have deliberately included all of these benefits to businesses to encourage them to locate in Market Chambers and focus on running their own businesses.”
Neath Properties have also been working closely with the following Welsh-based professionals over several years to bring the scheme to fruition: Curtis Blain, Chartered Surveyors, for the concept design; Office Image Ltd, Contractor and specialist office designers; and Banks Wood, Quantity Surveyors.
