Mixed use conversion and redevelopment opportunity STRATTON HOUSE C A M P U S High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset For sale
THE OPPORTUNITY d Impressive historic buildings in a town centre location d Currently headquarters of West Dorset District Council d Potential for comprehensive conversion and redevelopment, subject to planning d Approximately 4,624.7 sq m (49,777.25 sq ft) NIA of office accommodation d Site of approximately 0.645 hectares (1.59 acres) d Ample on-site parking and vehicle access
LOCATION Dorchester is the historic County Town of Dorset, lying in the heart of the county on the edge of the an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Formerly the Roman town of Durnovaria, and with historic and cultural associations including Thomas Hardy and the Tolpuddle Martyrs, the town today is the employment, administrative and commercial centre for the surrounding rural area, with a busy shopping centre and flourishing market. Dorchester is a vibrant, growing town which has been resilient in the face of the economic downturn elsewhere. The current population is approximately 18,280 and this is rising. Residential development is continuing at Poundbury, built on Duchy of Cornwall land and heavily influenced by Prince Charles, as well as at the former brewery site close to the town centre. A new shopping area nearby at Charles Street has planning permission, and the development at the brewery site will also include a range of leisure, arts and commercial uses. Environmental enhancements to reduce the impact of traffic on the town centre are planned. The Stratton House campus is located in the heart of Dorchester with its main entrance facing High West Street, the principal east-west route through the town. This impressive street comprises a mix of uses including leisure, office, retail and residential. High West Street provides easy walking access to Dorchester s main retail area as well as the new mixed use developments at Charles Street and The Brewery. The property is currently the headquarters of West Dorset District Council who are committed to relocating to a purpose built office within the town as part of the Charles Street redevelopment scheme, at the end of 2012. The historic Shire Hall adjoins the site and is proposed to be developed as a heritage attraction, including as it does the original court where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried. The Council has agreed that the Tourist Information Centre will be relocated to the building. This facility currently has a footfall of around 200,000 people per year and is planned to open in 2014. The High West Street frontage will also benefit from the environmental improvements associated with the Dorchester Transport and Environment Plan project. These proposals are programmed to commence in 2014 and will include pedestrianisation of part of High West Street between Trinity Street and South Street and pavement widening along the frontage of the site onto High West Street. Details of the Plan can be viewed on http://www.dorsetforyou.com/395722 Both Dorchester West and South railway stations are half a mile to the south of the property. Dorchester South provides routes locally to Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth with a direct train to London Waterloo taking 2 hours and 36 minutes. Dorchester West provides direct links northwards to Yeovil and Bristol. The property is well served by road links: Exeter is 54 miles to the west via the A35 and A30, Southampton 54 miles to the east via the A31 whilst London is 125 miles to the east via the A31 and M3.
THE SITE Glyde Path House was constructed in 1939 and originally used as a pathology laboratory. It comprises a 3 storey block with central light-well and 7 car parking spaces accessed from Glyde Path Road and is currently used as offices by WDDC. It is not listed. The Old School House is located to the east of the site facing Grey School Passage. The Grade II listed property has been converted into modern office space whilst retaining many original features. 17 and 17a Colliton Street are the former stables and servicing block to Stratton House and are presently used as offices. They form part of the curtilage listing of the main buildings. ACCOMMODATION The campus buildings have the following approximate net internal areas: Building sq M Sq Ft 58-60 High West Street 2,934.5 31,587.5 The Old School House 278.74 3,000 17 Colliton Street 70.49 758.75 17a Colliton Street 15 0.45 1,619 36-39 Glyde Path Road 380.75 4,096 40-41 Glyde Path Road 159.77 1,720 Glyde Path House 650 6,996 Total 4,624.7 49,777.25 Planning The site is situated within the Defined Development Boundary of Dorchester and forms part of the designated town centre. Local Plan Policy CO supports retail, leisure and office uses in the town centre. Whilst there is a presumption against the loss of employment, it is recognised that mixed use developments as an alternative can bring community benefits and regeneration. Residential conversion/ redevelopment will be considered, although within the context of a mixed use scheme in order to preserve the economic vitality and vibrancy of this part of the town centre. The mix of uses may include residential, commercial, retail, leisure and tourism. Whilst the majority of buildings on site are listed there is potential for sympathetic extensions to these properties (subject to planning). Further information is available on request. Tenure We understand that the property is held Freehold. The purchaser will be obliged to provide a pedestrian right of access to the rear of the Shire Hall which is being retained by WDDC. They will also be required to provide 6 on-site car parking spaces for exclusive use of WDDC in connection with the Shire Hall. The attractive former cottages that form 36-41 Glyde Path Road are currently used as offices by WDDC. Numbers 39-41 are Grade II listed. These measurements are provided for indicative purposes only. Prospective purchasers should rely on their own investigations. The Stratton House campus comprises a variety of buildings on a site of approximately 0.679 ha (1.598 acres) mostly defined by High West Street to the south, Glyde Path Road to the west, Colliton Street to the north and Grey School Passage to the east. There is a large car park which provides circa 85 spaces to the centre of the site. Glyde Path House and the Bennets Court car park in Colliton Street are included in this sale but not located on the main site. All of the buildings aside from Glyde Path House are protected by listed status or by way of their inclusion in the cartilage of a listed building. The ground rises from south (High West Street) to north (Colliton Street). The buildings included in the sale briefly comprise: Stratton House which forms part of an impressive facade of buildings facing High West Street. Numbers 58-60, formerly two large town houses, now comprise the main West Dorset District Council (WDDC) offices. Early 20th century extensions form the rear of these properties, which are both Grade II listed. Bennets Court car park comprises an open site with an approximate area of 0.034 hectares (0.083 acres). The Stratton House campus would suit a variety of uses which may include office, leisure, retail and residential, to be achieved through sympathetic conversion and redevelopment of the existing buildings. Further guidance is provided in the planning section below and in the technical information pack available on request.
THE SITE (CONTINUED) MARKETING Energy Performance certificates Non-domestic buildings These certificates show the energy rating of the buildings. It indicates the energy efficiency of the building fabric and the heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting systems. The rating is compared to two benchmarks for this type of building: one appropriate for new buildings and one appropriate for exisiting buildings. STRATTON HOUSE 58-60 High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UZ THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE 1 Grey School Passage, Dorchester, DT1 1XG Method of sale The property is offered for sale by way of informal tender, with offers invited on any one or all of the following lots: 1. Stratton House and its curtilage buildings, to include the Old School House and Glyde Path Road cottages 2. Glyde Path House 3. Bennets Court car park 4. 17 and 17a Colliton Street Please note that conditional (subject to planning) offers only are invited for the property. Prospective purchasers should provide a description of the proposed use and an illustrative layout of the proposed development. The deadline for offers is Friday 6 July, 2012 by email to James Petherick at the address below or by post to GVA, St Catherine s Court, Berkeley Place, Bristol BS8 1BQ. The lots above are defined on the plan below. 17 COLLITON STREET Dorchester, DT1 1XH 17a COLLITON STREET Dorchester, DT1 1XH Glyde Path HOUSE Glyde Path Road, Dorchester, DT1 1JB 4 3 2 1
MARKETING (CONTINUED) Offers should include the following information: Purchase price Timing associated with purchase Conditions and due diligence associated with offer Confirmation and source of funding Development proposals and illustrative layout The vendor reserves the right not to accept the highest or any of the offers received. It is envisaged that a preferred purchaser will be selected from the proposals received, however the vendor reserves the right to alter the tender process, request purchasers to provide further details in respect of their offer or to interview prospective purchasers. Viewing days The property will continue to function as West Dorset District Council s headquarters until December 2012. Viewing is therefore strictly by appointment. In order to minimise disruption to Council employees, two viewing days have been arranged: Friday 18 May, 2012 Friday 15 June, 2012 Please contact GVA to make a reservation. Further information A technical information pack including: CAD plans, planning concept statement, archaeological report, statement of historical significance, EPCs and asbestos survey is available on request. Please contact GVA if you require an information pack. Contact For further information or to make an appointment to view, please contact GVA James Petherick T: 0117 988 5331 E: james.petherick@gva.co.uk Subject to contract Particulars dated May 2012 DISCLAIMER GVA is the trading name of GVA Grimley limited, conditions under which particulars are issued by GVA Grimley Limited for themselves, for any joint agents and for the vendors or lessors of this property whose agents they are, give notice that: (i) the particulars are set out as a general outline only for the guidance of intending purchases or lessors and do not constitute, nor constitute part of, an offer or contract. (ii) all descriptions, dimensions, references to condition and necessary permission for use and occupation, and other details, are given in good faith and are believed to be correct but any intending purchasers or tenants should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact but satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each of them. (iii) no person in the employment of GVA Grimley Limited or any joint agents has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatever in relation to this property. (iv) all rentals and prices are quoted exclusive of VAT Reproduced by courtesy of the Controller of HMSO Crown Copyright reserved. Licence No 774359. If applicable, with consent of Chas E Goad, Cartographers, Old Hatfield, Geographers A-Z Map Co Ltd and/or The Automobile Association. For identification purposes only.