Offices being built close to Newcastle’s St James’ Park will provide facilities for charities in the North East to start up and grow.
Housing organisation Home Group has taken the keys to One Strawberry Lane, which is currently being fitted out ahead of a full opening later this year.
The offices will provide a home to 700 of Home Group’s 3,200 staff and the company is aiming for the building to be accredited along the SmartScore guidelines that measure offices for sustainability, connectivity and other measures.
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Now Home Group has announced that it has agreed a deal for Connected Voice, which supports charities and voluntary groups in Newcastle and Gateshead, to become a tenant in the building. The site will act as a central hub in support of the city’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, with Connected Voice’s 750 members encouraged to use space to access business development support, training and development, as well as funding advice and support.
Mark Henderson, chief executive of Home Group, said: “This is a building like no other presently in the city. We are proud to be leading the way for things like SmartScore certification and to deliver the first purpose built workspace for hybrid working.
“But, for me, what sets One Strawberry Lane apart above all else is the fact it will be integrated into its environment, working to support and interact with the city’s organisations, businesses and communities.
“Home Group has been rooted in the North-East for close to 90 years. We know this region, we know this city and we know its communities. Having a building that works for all was vitally important to us.”
One Strawberry Lane was developed by Ask Real Estate and built by BAM Construction. BAM has handed the keys of the building to Home Group and an internal fit-out will be carried by Overbury in advance of it opening fully in the autumn.
Home Group is one of the UK’s largest housing organisations with operations and staff around the UK. Its headquarters are currently on the edge of Newcastle. The company last week invited a number of business leaders and politicians to see the new offices.
