Plans to transform Portsmouth business park take major step forward

The £10.5m refurbishment of Lakeside sites 2000 and 3000, led by Northwood Investors, is quickly nearing its end-of-July completion deadline.

Renovation work started in December in an attempt to reel in firms eager to set up at Lakeside.

The two buildings, which were formerly used by software giant IBM, collectively have around 120,000sq ft of business space.

A number of office lettings are expected to pour in as a result of the expansion, potentially welcoming thousands of staff.

Nick Turner, asset management director for Northwood Regional UK, cut a ribbon at the site of Lakeside 3000 yesterday to welcome the progress.

Speaking about fresh business at the site, he said: ‘We are currently talking to two parties about space in building 3000.

‘Hopefully in the next six months we can announce some new lettings. We’ve got various parties who are interested.’

American firm Lead Forensics was the first organisation to move into Lakeside 3000, having started its tenancy in February.

Client and communications manager at Lakeside North Harbour Karen Tyrrell said the development was a positive step forward for the business park.

‘Buildings 2000 and 3000 are the next phase in the development of the campus, which has planning permission for over a million square feet of office space’, she said.

‘A huge business campus like this at the north of Portsmouth creates a fantastic impression for everybody that visits the city.

‘It’s a lovely space and it’s absolutely fantastic that it’s in Portsmouth.’

Ian Cox, facilities manager at Lakeside North Harbour, said: ‘I’m so excited about this development.

‘I’ve been here since 2006 and when I first arrived there were three people in a building capable of holding nearly three-thousand.

‘To see this coming along and the thought of getting more people into the site and raising the profile of Portsmouth is amazing for everybody in the area.’

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