Parkside
Location: Birmingham Business Park, Solihull, J6 M42
Client:Â Changan UK R&D Centre (CAUK)
Size:Â 80,000 sq ft
Located on Birmingham Business Park, the most established out-of-town office park in the Midlands, the Parkside estate comprises in excess of 80,000 sq ft across five modern two-storey office buildings. Dedicated to powertrain design and development for Changan’s next generation vehicles, CAUK acquired Parkside to set up its UK long-term base and create a ‘world-class powertrain research centre’.
Following the relocation, CAUK started the process of creating a bespoke facility within the Parkside estate by demolishing one of the buildings and constructing a brand-new building to its specific requirements. CAUK also occupied the rest of the estate in part, with the remaining space either vacant or let to third-party occupiers. In so doing, they became, in effect, a ‘reluctant’ landlord, i.e. the managing of these properties was not core to CAUK’s business activity. However, the acquisition created the responsibility for managing them until such time as they form part of CAUK’s future occupational plans.
CAUK selected KWB Property Management for its proactive approach to managing properties and their tenants.
KWB provides clear routes of communication for occupiers, responding to property management issues in a timely manner and making regular visits to site to hold meetings with lessees. This prevents day-to-day property management issues from being raised directly with CAUK.
In addition to collecting the rent and managing the service charges, KWB provides thorough financial management and transparency in re-tendering of regular contracts, such as cleaning and landscaping. KWB manages the expectations of the tenants in order to retain them within the buildings by undertaking planned preventative maintenance and fulfilling timely repairs and minor refurbishments, funded through the service charge budget.
