Design studio moving from county to capital

LEASE WON’T BE RENEWED THOUGH FIRM TO RETAIN HQ IN LEICESTERSHIRE

AN influential design studio is leaving its Leicestershire home.

Management at Checkland Kindleysides have decided not to renew the lease on their head office in Cossington, after acquiring a bigger office in London.

But managing director Claire Callaway said the business, which works with brands such as Converse, Adidas Originals, Hunter and Asda, would maintain a base in its home county.

She said: “Our lease in Cossington expires within the next two years and we’ve decided not to renew it.

“We will, however, retain our HQ in the Leicestershire area.

“For context, we have been in our Cossington studio for 22 years with a presence in London for the past 11 years. We acquired a larger London premises at the end of 2018 on a long-term lease.

“This investment was always part of our longer-term strategic business plan, as we continue to flex our business to support an expanding global client base.

“It’s a positive step forward and something we’ve been planning for – the whole team here have been aware since last year and are all excited.”

Newly published accounts show the 40-year-old business turned over £8.5 million in the year to April 2019 – compared with £13.7 million the previous year – following a period of reorganisation.

Overseas sales were up last year while UK revenues dropped from £10.2 million to around £5.8 million. The accounts show a pre-tax profit of £843,000, compared to a loss of £188,000 the previous year. They said the average monthly number of staff on the company’s books went from 92 in 2018 to 56 last year.

The landlord of the Cossington offices, six miles north of Leicester, has now put them on the market with commercial property agents Mather Jamie and Lambert Smith

Hampton. The purpose-built “sleek, two-storey detached glass and steel structure”, left, has an asking price of £2.75 million.

Alternatively, the building, which is on the Charnwood Edge Business Park in Syston Road, could also be rented for £250,000 a year.

Alex Reid, a director at Mather Jamie, said the predominantly openplan complex was fitted to an impressive standard and includes a gym with showers.

It also has parking for 86 cars. Mr Reid said: “This is an exceptional opportunity for a prospective purchaser searching for the best of both worlds – a contemporary environment with luxury fixtures and fittings, in an efficiently-connected location.

“Anyone interested in knowing more or experiencing the internal and external feel of the offices is encouraged to get in touch promptly, as it is likely that the premises will receive considerable interest.”

Robbie Farrell, senior surveyor at Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “On behalf of Lambert Smith Hampton, we are delighted to be able to market such a high-quality office space, set within self-contained grounds which have been maintained to the highest quality, making this a very rare opportunity in the market.

“The premises comprises a large open-plan area with cellular offices, meeting spaces and important break-out areas, as well as a double height feature reception area – a perfect HQ opportunity.”