January 7, 2011
Highcross has let 15,300 sq ft at its Lakeside North Harbour development in Portsmouth to The Southern Co-operative.
The Southern Co-operative, which operates community food stores and funeral homes across the south, is moving to 1000 Lakeside, after outgrowing its Fareham head office premises. More than 100 staff will relocate to the landmark building, adjacent to the M27, in a move which is expected to take place in the summer of 2011.
The Southern Co-operative employs 3,500 people generating £260million in sales and has ambitious further expansion plans. Chief Executive Mark Smith said: “Thanks to our success in developing the business, we have outgrown where we are now and there is simply not enough room here for us to effectively support the continued expansion of our business. We need more space and a more modern environment to support new ways of working.
“This is a hugely exciting development for us all that will enable us to support our stores in delivering continuous improvement in customer service into the future.”
Highcross director, Nick Turner, added: “1000 Lakeside has developed a reputation as a leading location for regional businesses seeking high quality, prestigious head office premises. This latest letting, one of our largest to date, also underlines the development’s appeal to a wide range of business sectors.”
Agents for 1000 Lakeside are Hughes Ellard and Vail Williams.
