Sites and buildings
Business premises. Is this the right building for the business?
Buying or adapting premises is usually a one-off for a business, but a large commitment of money and management time. The building has to suit the way the business works, the planning and lease have to allow it, the works have to be costed properly, and the move has to happen without disrupting trading. We test the options before you commit and then manage the project through to occupation.
Who it is for
For owner-occupiers buying a building, tenants taking or adapting leased space, organisations consolidating several sites into one, and businesses whose premises no longer fit. Projects range from fitting out a single unit to relocating a whole operation.
What to check before you commit
- Use and planningWhether the building’s lawful use allows your operation. Offices, light industry, shops, clinics and gyms are all in Class E and can usually move between each other without planning permission; general industrial (B2) and storage and distribution (B8) are separate. Conditions on old permissions can restrict hours, deliveries or the type of use.
- ConditionRoof, structure, services, drainage, asbestos and the remaining life of the main plant. A cheap building can be an expensive one once the works are priced.
- Energy ratingA building being let must have an energy performance certificate of at least E. For buildings over 1,000 square metres, the government intends to require B from 2031 where it is cost-effective, which affects what a landlord will spend and what an owner may need to.
- Lease termsFor leased space: the length, break options, rent reviews, repairing obligations, landlord’s consent for alterations, and what must be put back at the end.
- Fit-outWhat the space needs to work for you: layout, power and data, heating and cooling, welfare, loading, yard and parking. A clear brief is what keeps fit-out costs under control.
- Running costsBusiness rates, service charge, energy and maintenance over the period you expect to stay.
The options
- BuyControl and a long-term asset, but capital tied up in property rather than the business.
- LeaseFlexibility and less capital, but less control and obligations to the landlord.
- Adapt what you haveReconfigure, extend or retrofit the existing building rather than move.
- Relocate or consolidateMove to a better building, or bring several sites into one, with the costs and savings set side by side.
- Sell and lease backRelease the capital in a building you own while staying in occupation.
How we help
- Feasibility studies: what the site or building could become, and what each option costs and returns
- Site identification: finding and securing the right site
- Development management: managing the scheme, including the planning process and the right planning consultant
- Delivery strategy for complex sites
- Project management
Case studies
Guides
Common questions
Should we buy or lease our premises?
It depends on how long you expect to stay, how much capital the business can spare, how specialised the building needs to be and how much control you need. We set both options out over the same period so the comparison is fair.
Do we need planning permission to use a building for our business?
Not always. Many business uses are in Class E and can move between each other without permission, but industrial and storage uses are separate, and conditions or a lease can restrict what is allowed. It should be checked before you commit.
What does a fit-out cost?
It varies widely with the building and the brief. A properly costed brief early on is the best protection against overspending.
Can you manage the move?
Yes. We can manage the design team, the contractor and the programme so the building is ready when the business needs it.