Revamps at Spire in Newcastle and Herald Buildings in Harrogate

A Newcastle office complex is set to reopen this month following completion of a multi-million-pound refurbishment programme.

Spire on Pilgrim Street is being unveiled following a year-long refurbishment led by the building’s new owners, Newcastle-based luxury office space provider Central Space.

The move sees the property, which is located at the top of Akenside Hill and fronts onto the Tyne Bridge overlooking the Quayside, transformed into 38,566 sq. ft. of high-end serviced Grade A office space, set within the original 1970s landmark building.

A new look designer interior accommodates Spire’s Platinum Suite range, from four person to 40 person offices with state-of-the-art meeting and conferencing facilities.

Other new features include the Platinum Lounge with a barista station, unlimited premium refreshments, co-working space, a manned reception, 24/7 access and one monthly fee covering all utilities, ultra-fast broadband, office cleaning and more.

A new rooftop terrace is also planned to follow later in the year to complete the ambitious project.

The Spire building in Newcastle (Image: Submitted)

The refurbishment has been undertaken by the Central Space team. The company owns and manages several office properties across the North East region including Alderman Fenwick’s House, one of Newcastle’s most historic buildings, and specialises in bespoke fitout.

Central Space has seen a big increase in uptake of its bespoke hybrid workspace across its client base, with both large and small companies seeking higher quality space and amenities. 

Inside Spire (Image: Submitted)

Over in Harrogate, work is now underway to convert the iconic ‘Herald Buildings’ in Harrogate town centre into a new retail and apartment scheme.

Yorkshire-based property company Rushbond has appointed Ashfield Projects to undertake the careful renovation of these significant heritage buildings. Originally built in the 1850s, they were the headquarters of the Harrogate Advertiser for much of the last century until the newspaper company moved out in 1990.

Most recently, the building operated as a bar for nearly 30 years before closing in 2021. Rushbond acquired the development in 2021 and work is now underway to transform the buildings into four high quality ground floor retail units and five apartments including a penthouse, designed by SPX Architects.

The new retail spaces will complement the existing mix of more than 50 boutique, high-quality shops located in the stunning Montpellier, Harrogate district which boasts the original Betty’s Tearoom – and will enhance the area’s reputation as a best-in-class destination for independent shopping.

The apartments, which will benefit from views of the town’s famous Montpellier Hill, will be marketed under Rushbond’s new housebuilding arm – Fallowdale Homes – and are expected to be ready to move into from spring 2025.

The Herald Buildings (Image: Submitted)

Richard Gough from Rushbond commented: “We are excited to have begun work on this iconic local landmark. The renovations will create a sustainable, long-term use for these significant buildings, offering future generations of people the opportunity to live and work in this locally designated heritage asset. We hope that by breathing new life into this historic building, the much-loved Montpellier neighbourhood in Harrogate will be further enhanced with new retail spaces to be enjoyed by a growing community of residents.”

The renovations will include a full fit-out and remodel of the interior spaces, as well as careful restoration of the buildings’ exterior to further enhance the streetscape of this heritage quarter of the town centre, which is a designated Conservation Area.

The Herald Buildings (Image: Submitted)

The wider project team also includes Richard Boothroyd & Associates Ltd, Topping Engineers and HG Consulting Engineers.

The Herald Buildings add to Rushbond’s significant portfolio of cherished, heritage buildings in the region. The developer has won multiple awards for a number of sensitive, restoration projects including the iconic Majestic Leeds office redevelopment, now the northern headquarters for Channel 4; the Grade I listed Leeds Corn Exchange, a thriving centre for independent shops and cafes. Current projects also include the creation of new homes and community spaces in Wakefield's Civic Quarter and a new residential community at Hardwick Grange in Sedgefield, County Durham.