A refurbished office building on Swindon’s outskirts is half let having attracted Capita Travel and Events as an occupier.
The firm has taken just over 10,500 sq ft on the first floor of Stirling House at South Marston, leaving just the ground floor of 10,520 sq ft available. It was previously based at the Lotmead Business Village, Wanborough – the head office of Venues Event Management, which Capita acquired in 2012. 
Built in 2001, the building was previously occupied by US IT firm Wind River, which relocated to Kembrey Park last year.
It was bought by Bristol property developer Ashville Asset Management on behalf of clients, which comprehensively refurbished it to fit in with the needs of modern occupiers. The building has open plan air conditioned space with substantial parking.
Giles Weir of property agents JLL said the refurbishment had brought an instant result. “There is so little good quality space in the town at present we need more landlords to do the same and then perhaps they can enjoy the same success,” he said.
“The office market in Swindon is enjoying a bit of a renaissance at present and there are positive signs that this is set to continue.”
Total availability of office space in Swindon is 790,000 sq ft, its lowest level for 10 years and a significant drop on the 1m sq ft at this time last year.
Joint agent Bradley Forbes of Loveday added: “ In essence we now have a two tier market – good quality stock where quoting rents are now moving higher than pre-recession levels and poor quality buildings which will remain vacant unless extensively refurbished or converted to alternative uses.
“Landlords not proposing or able to benefit from conversion to alternative uses are well advised to consider investment in refurbishment now we are firmly in a rising market.
Ashville’s strategy at Stirling House has proved to be the right one and has reaped the rewards.”
