Triple Award Success for Miller Birch
L-R: Mark Bielby, Peter Gadsby & Senior Project Manager, Charles Smyth
Development company, Miller Birch has secured an unprecedented triple success at a prestigious East Midlands property awards dinner.
The company won the Commercial Developer of the Year accolade alongside two other awards for Sustainable Development of the Year and Property Deal of the Year for Speedo’s global headquarters building at ng2 in Nottingham.
The awards were promoted by regional business magazine Insider, and Miller Birch Chairman, Peter Gadsby said: "I am extremely proud that we have achieved this success. It is always pleasing to be recognised by your peers in the property industry.
“The achievement reflects all the hard work of both our internal team and our group of external consultants, many of whom have worked closely with us over a number of years. As a company, we always adopt a highly professional approach, understanding fully our clients' requirements and delivering buildings on time and within budget."
The company’s Development Director Mark Bielby, explained that the Commercial Developer of the Year title had come as a result of Miller Birch’s high level of activity in a very difficult market.
“In the current economic climate, to conclude a letting of 35,000 sq ft to Speedo and also to sign E.ON UK for a new nine-storey 105,000 sq ft office and administration centre is an outstanding achievement.
“These buildings have now both been sold. Speedo's Global Headquarters was bought by Allianz, the German Insurance giant for £10 million and the E.ON development - the largest office pre let outside London in 2010 - has been pre funded by Charles Street Buildings for £30 million.”
The Speedo building was completed in October 2010 and was officially opened in April by HRH the Princess Royal whilst E.ON is due to be completed in September next year.
He added that Speedo House had achieved Breeam Excellent accreditation and had been recognised for the Sustainable Development award. Key features of the highly efficient building are the utilisation of grey water, air to water source heat pumps, photo voltaics and PIR/daylight controls to internal lighting.
Meanwhile, the Property Deal of the Year award recognised the letting of the Speedo development - an investment which was subsequently sold to Allianz at a yield of 6.75%.
Mr Bielby added: "Although my colleagues and I collect the awards on the night, it is a testament to the quality of the professionals with whom we work. It is a real team effort.
“With the current state of the economy, it is important to instil confidence in an occupier. If they have signed up with you for a new building they want to have certainty that it will be delivered on time and to the highest quality. With a strong balance sheet and a highly experienced and knowledgeable team we provide that certainty."
Miller Birch is a joint venture between Miller Developments and East Midlands developer, Peter Gadsby