Financial services firm Openwork has become the latest major occupier to relocate from Swindon town centre to an office park on its outskirts.
Openwork’s move to a new building at Lydiard Fields, close to junction 16 of the M4, not only raises questions about the town centre’s position as a prime office location but also means Swindon as a whole now has no premium office space available to attract new firms. 
The firm, which operates the UK’s largest multi-tie mortgage and financial advice network, is to move all employees out of its base at the Tri-Centre office complex to the 26,853 sq ft Washington House, pictured, at Lydiard Fields. Staff will relocate later this year once fit-out works have been completed.
Openwork’s relocation is the largest office letting in Swindon this year. The Swindon office of property agents Keningtons pre-let the building on behalf of Lydiard Fields developer BAM Properties. It forms part of phase 2 of the office park. Other occupiers include RWE nPower and JP Morgan.
Jeremy Sutton of Keningtons said: “This is the largest office letting in the Swindon market this year and as a result there is now no new Grade A space available in the market.”
BAM Properties have planning permission for a further 34,000 sq ft on phase 3 at Lydiard Fields and Keningtons are now offering this space on a pre-let basis.
BAM Properties development director Martin Hill added: “It shows once again that BAM’s high-quality sustainable approach to development attracts important occupiers and helps to boost the local economy. The letting confirms that with an improving economic climate there is a strengthening in occupier confidence evident not just in Swindon, but nationally.”
Openwork has taken the building on a new 15-year lease without breaks at a rent of £17.50 per sq ft.
The building achieved a ‘very good’ environmental rating under the BREEAM assessment.
