Much to the delight and relief of many including us property landlords, we learnt yesterday that the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme (SBRS) will be extended in Wales until March 2015.   

This is brilliant news for everyone.  First Minister, Carwyn Jones who announced this on Monday also said, “the extension of the scheme was the latest in a number of business rates measures that would help businesses in Wales.”  I’m sure this news will help to ease market nervousness and encourage growth.

January has been an interesting time with more viewings for our splendid offices in the heart of Wrexham and now we’re delighted that those taking the leap to move in 2014 will benefit from the relief until March 2015.  We’ve currently four offices to let in Wrexham, ideal for creative Start-ups looking for smart space in Wrexham, the capital of North Wales – we’re close to the University, a skip from the General Station and right on the main exit road, so it’s easy access in and out.  As well as benefiting from SBRS, tenants benefit from preferential rates on room hire, so it’s smiles all round for everyone.  We benefit from the relief too, as our three Rooms for Hire fall within the SBRS so we can keep our prices nice and keen for the foreseen.

So, if you’re squashed in the spare room, unhappy with your drab and dreary office, tired of asking for those pesky repairs to be done, or simply looking for a smart central location then join the growing family here at The Regent – we’re nice and green too don’t you know.

To arrange a viewing of our current offices and business accommodation to let in Wrexham at The Regent, please contact us.   Just call me, Joanna on 07786923078.

Our green energy plan has finally come to fruition.  After months of hard work, paperwork, investment and just a little waiting I finally managed to get an updated  EPC ( Energy Performance Certificate).

When we bought the building back in November 2012, the EPC rating as a mere G, it’s now a B, that’s pretty good for what was once a very leaky and damp Edwardian offices!    If you’re wondering why we bothered and how we managed it, read on.

If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll know in the process of the renovation our aim was to install as much eco-friendly heating and lighting as possible.  The certification demonstrates our desire to turn the building from an uncomfortable fridge into a cosy and comfortable ‘space to thrive’ is now achieved.  To do this, we did the following:

• New roof and loft insulation
• New Worcester Greenstar gas boiler
• Thermaboards on renewed walls
• PIR LED or T5 lighting through offices, common walkways and cloakrooms etc.
• Solar tube – installed on the first floor landing to make maximum use of daylight and used a roof light in the orangery to minimise the need for lights.
• Solar panels from Dulas
• Triple glazed windows with ADG windows
• Renovated original sash windows with Ventrolla double glazing

Initially, there is a lot of investment, but well worthwhile.  The EPC is a requirement for prospective office tenants and a prerequisite for a  FIT (Feed in Tariff) application.  As a micro-generator of renewable energy through our solar panels, we now don’t need to buy so much electricity in.  We are also contracted to buy in any surplus we need from Good Energy, a proactively renewable supplier.

We’ve now achieved a B (42) rating, a massive leap from the previous G, without spoiling any of the original Edwardian character, and in early 2014 voltage optimisation will be added to reduce our consumption even further.

Smiles all around!

​Joanna x

We worked through the Bank Holiday weekend and finally at tea-time on Monday evening, I put down my tools to prepare for the Grand Opening of The Regent Offices and Business Centre in Wrexham.

It would be a lie to say it wasn’t a close run thing, as the last two weeks of the project were spattered with obstacles from start to finish.  However, with persistence and help from friends and family, the mountains became stepping-stones leading to a brilliant celebration.

​And so, at 1.00 pm it was a great honour to receive our guests and Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor David Bithell accompanied by The Mayoress Mrs Virginia Bithell for the official opening on Tuesday 27th August.

The weather was shining down brightly, the place was packed with friends and family and what a wonderful afternoon it was to celebrate bringing an unloved Edwardian building back to life with dignity and purpose; transforming it from a dying wreck to ‘Space to Thrive’.

​The Mayor & Mayoress took a tour of the building and enjoyed seeing the Wall Art and sitting on the bench created by Simon O’Rourke Treecarving.

Now it’s all over and the next phase of business begins; I find this quote by William Wilberforce, whom one of our conference rooms is named after, quite an inspiration, I hope you like it:

“Accustom yourself to look first to the dreadful consequences of failure; then fix your eye on the glorious prize which is before you; and when your strength begins to fail, and your spirits are well nigh exhausted, let the animating view rekindle your resolution, and call forth in renewed vigour the fainting energies of your soul.”  William Wilberforce.
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Until next time, Happy Officing.  Joanna x

Another month has passed and now we’re moving firmly into the decorating stage of our new Office Development at 67 Regent Street, Wrexham.

Copious paint colour charts, wallpaper samples and carpet tiles were until recently cluttering my dining room table, now the important decisions are made, they’re stacked in a pile alongside the numerous light fittings.
At last, the kitchen is being fitted and should be complete by the end of the week, it’s all gradually coming together, despite all the extras I’ve needed to add in along the way.  I have to admit that the washrooms have proved a little tricky to fit but this hasn’t caused delays.   The scaffolding is only just coming down this week as I’ve taken the long term view; dealing with any potential niggles now, rather than literally having a deluge of problems later.  It’s safe to say the roofs are no longer leaking like sieves; we’ve completely re-roofed The Regent with reused and reclaimed slates – it’s watertight.
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As the project moves forward, I get lovely emails from suppliers, a favourite one this week held a picture of the newly completed Wall Art by Simon O’Rourke Tree Carving:

More updates soon, until then, take care in the sun.

Joanna x

Time has flown since my last post and I’m very pleased to say we’re making great strides in completing a fabulous resource for Wrexham.   The recent welcomed sunshine has really helped us with the concrete bases for the ‘Parlour’ and the ‘Snug’.   Graham, of Gravitas Commercial has been looking after his setting concrete like an expectant parent, staying on very late – just in case.    Meanwhile, the first fixes are well under-way and ceilings repaired and preserved where possible.

Off site, I’ve placed an order with renewable energy company Dulas for some spectacular integrated Solar PV panels to cover one of the roofs.   As you’ll see from my tweets I’ve been darting here and there,  looking at all sorts of fixtures and fittings to get the right look and feel for the space both inside and out.
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Looking at the outside, I’ve commissioned Simon O’Rourke Tree Carving to make a carved piece of wall art for the patio area.   The design below is based on the branding by  Mako Creative and will be in either redwood or sweet chestnut with the dark R extruded from the surface, and the tail of it along with the words, ‘space to thrive’  recessed. 

​I can’t wait to post a picture of the finished work of art, I hope you like Simon’s sketch.

That’s all for now, happy officing!

​Until next time, Joanna x

​Since last time we’ve had snow, wind and lots of rain.  Now thankfully, the colours of spring are popping up everywhere and work has finally started on 67 Regent Street.  

Whilst the builders  get on with the heavy work, I’m busy sourcing and organising in the background to conserve and preserve as many original features as possible. Whilst not a Listed building, the preservation of external features is regulated by the property being in the Grosvenor Road, Conservation Area of Wrexham Council; so I’m working  closely with Wrexham Planning on this project.   To give you a bit of background, 67 Regent Street, is itself within a terrace of Edwardian houses numbered 57 to 67 Regent Street.  The terrace was converted into offices many years ago, but they retain elegantly detailed brickwork, stonework, sash windows and distinctive decorative metal railings.  Here are some images of Regent Street around this time; there was certainly a lot less hustle and bustle in those days.

One the major external features and an integral part of the property is the large bay style, sash windows, both top and bottom.    Thankfully, I found sash window and window repair specialists Ventrolla, early on in the planning stages and booked them in to refurbish and upgrade the existing windows to incorporate double glazing.   Ventrolla worked on Sarah Beeny’s Rise Hall Restoration and have been a joy to work with, we’re in safe hands.  The renovation process will take several days from start to finish, commencing early June; after that the window frames will need painting inside and out.
Apart from the external windows, I have some wonderful examples of Edwardian stained glass panelling within the property, this will undergo restoration by a local artisan and will be a striking feature in the entrance to the Offices.

I just love the shape and gentle colour palette; I’ll be picking some of the colours out as accents and inspiration for some of the interior features and furniture.  Until next time, Joanna x

Maja at Black Iris has been so good working with me on the relatively small, but important job of designing a reception desk to fit in a small and awkward space.    The design needed to be on brand, clean, striking and serve as a useful focal point within the hallway just at the back of the stairs ( you’ll see what I mean when it’s installed).
After an initial consultation and then measure up on the thick snow, we had a 3D design.  We subsequently met up to work out final touches and decided to replace the initial standard graphic with the alternative logo that’s become a the company icon.  What do you think of the results?  ​I can’t wait to see and use the finished article, after all it’s not just going to sit there and look stunning, it has a job to do.