Hicks Baker

The Reading Development and Investment Review 2005 provides the most comprehensive assembly of development and investment information covering greater Reading. This edition updates the former publication 'Reading Development and Investment Review 2002' which together with the 1999 version, provides a useful reference from which comparisons can be made.

In order to keep up to date with the commercial property market in Reading and the Thames Valley click 'here' to receive Hicks Baker's quarterly News Bulletin. The News Bulletin will focus on demand, supply, recent transactions, economic indicators and our market predictions.

The Disability Discrimination Act introduced new laws aimed at ending the discrimination that many disabled people encounter and provides the disabled with rights in the areas of:

If you are involved in any business or organisation which provides a service, offers facilities, and supplies goods to the public, whether paid for or free, then the Disability Discrimination Act affects you. This includes:

The act covers the physical features of an employers premises or the working arrangements which may put a disabled person at a substantial disadvantaged compared with non disabled people. If that is the case the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure there is no disadvantage. This duty applies to both recruitment and those currently employed.

Since 2 December 1996 it has been unlawful for service providers to treat disabled people less favourably for a reason related to their disability. From 1 October 1999 service providers must have made reasonable adjustments for disabled people such as providing extra help or making changes to the way they provide their services. From October 2004 service providers must also make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of their premises to overcome physical barriers to access, although this may not always be necessary if the service supplied can be provided in some other way that is not deemed discriminatory.

If you feel the Act affects you please call Giles Blagden on +44 (0) 118 955 7083

Clarks is to move to brand new headquarters in the heart of Reading by the spring of 2003.

The firm will be taking a total of 22,000 sq ft of space over three floors at 1 Forbury Square, overlooking the grounds of Reading Abbey and Forbury Park. The high specification development, by Argent Estates Limited, is currently nearing completion.

Michael Sippitt, Managing Partner, said, “Clarks has grown a lot in recent years. Relocation will allow us to use space more efficiently for future growth. We are very excited about the new building. It will provide a first class open plan, working environment, facilitating better communications that will be good for our staff and team culture.

“We see the new office as a useful tool for delivering ever better client services. It’s a well-designed, practical building that should serve our clients and us very well for a long time to come. We are also pleased to be staying in the centre of Reading, which we see as a significant benefit for many reasons, including easy access to the railway and the town’s excellent facilities.”

Forbury Square

Argent’s new scheme in Reading town centre provides two contemporary buildings in a high profile location, only two minutes from Reading Station. The scheme includes a new public square and overlooks the adjacent 5-acre Forbury Gardens.

Forbury Square provides a stimulating new working environment in a central and accessible location close to all town centre amenities including the Oracle Shopping Centre with its Riverside cafés and bars.

Following lettings to Clarks Solicitors (pre-letting March 2003), The Leasing Group (let May 2003) and Clydesdale Bank (let June 2003), the accommodation is available as follows:

ONE FORBURY SQUARE	Sq Ft	Sq M
Ground Floor (RH)	2,710	251	Let to Clydesdale Bank
Ground Floor (LH)	4,082	379	Available
First Floor	7,494	696	Available
Second Floor			Let to Clarks
Third Floor			Let to Clarks
Fourth Floor			Let to Clarks
Total	14,286	1,327
TWO FORBURY SQUARE
Ground Floor	11,240	1,044	Available
First Floor	22,401	2,081	Available
Second Floor	22,621	2,102	Available
Third Floor	22,621	2,102	Available
Fourth Floor			Let to Asset Co
Fifth Floor	11,415	1,060	Available
Total	90,298	8389
	104,584	9716

Stonemartin has recently completed the purchase of Forbury Square from Argent in order to open the fourth of their Corporate Centres. Stonemartin is developing a series of office buildings in major city centres throughout the United Kingdom. Stonemartin delivers office accommodation that enables dynamic companies to grow and, if necessary, contract, without the need to relocate.

Stonemartin accommodation can be described as conventional office space being delivered in an unconventional way. The objectives are to provide the essential service installations that all companies seek, to deliver the space tailored to client requirements and to offer a flexible lease structure. These factors enable companies to operate in a cost effective way. By managing a series of varying leases we are able to afford individual companies the opportunity of securing future expansion space without immediate commitment.

Stonemartin provides conventional office space in an unconventional way. They differentiate themselves by:

Stonemartin’s managed space appeals to customers who would normally acquire space on conventional terms but who are looking to eliminate capital costs on relocation or those who require greater flexibility to manage changing space requirements in connection with business plans and market fluctuations. Their clients are typically SMEs or regional divisional branches of major corporations.

Occupiers already at Forbury Square include Clarks Solicitors, Asset Co, Clydesdale Bank and the recently opened and highly acclaimed Forburys restaurant.

Forbury Square

ONE FORBURY SQUARE

TWO FORBURY SQUARE