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Keygrove Chartered Surveyors News
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**news** 29 November 2011 | | Major Private Hospital for Adanac Park, Southampton | | Circle Healthcare has won its planning appeal to build a state of the art new private hospital at Adanac Park, Southampton. The site is being marketed by Keygrove Chartered Surveyors with Turley Associates as Planning Consultants. The proposals represent one of the largest private hospitals in the UK, purpose built in a state of the art building. Circle, Europe’s largest healthcare partnership, is the proposed end user for the scheme and is recognised as being at the forefront of the private healthcare sector, with existing schemes at Bath and under construction at Reading. Circle was identified earlier this month as the first private sector operator of an NHS hospital, at Hinchingbrooke, Cambridgeshire. Andrew Archibald, Director of Keygrove says: “Adanac Park is the premier employment allocation on the periphery of Southampton, and is home to the national headquarters of Ordnance Survey. The permission for the hospital will be the second phase of the development and will sit at the gateway to the scheme.” Archibald continues: “Test Valley Borough Council had objected to the proposals for a private hospital and refused a planning application earlier this year. However the Planning Inspector agreed that the value of job generation in the current climate was more important.” Circle intends to create a state of the art facility. At a possible 130,000 sq ft the £70 million scheme represents one of the largest potential developments in Southampton in recent years and it will have a high profile alongside the M271 gateway into Southampton. Keygrove Chartered Surveyors and Turley Associates also acted for the landowners in relation to the sale of a 16 acre site at Adanac Park to the Ordnance Survey for its impressive new national headquarters. |
**news** 25 November 2011 | | Air Ambulance Charity Finds New Home |
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance charity have relocated to new offices at 4 King’s Park Road, Southampton following a successful search for new headquarters by Keygrove Chartered Surveyors. The charity began operations in the summer of 2007 and provides a rapid helicopter response to road traffic collisions, sporting accidents, collapses and many other incidents throughout the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region. With over 3,300 missions flown to date, the helicopter is called out many times per day and missions are often life saving. John Perry, Chief Executive of the charity said “We needed more space to accommodate our existing staff and also for the increasing number of our wonderful volunteers, as we continue to raise our public profile. Our helicopter is an expensive beast to feed and we are totally funded from donations. With Keygrove’s assistance, which has been very personable and professional, we have been able to use the current economic climate to conclude a very satisfactory deal at King’s Park Road. We believe this is an ideal location for the next phase of growth of our charity and I would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support.” Tej Singh of commercial property agents Keygrove Chartered Surveyors who acted on behalf of the Air Ambulance said “John and his team have a very clear idea of where they see the charity in the future and had very specific requirements for their new headquarters. I am happy to say that 4 King’s Park Road matched the ambitions of the organisation, they are a hard working charity doing an invaluable job in the local community and I am glad we were able to help.”
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**news** 14 November 2011 | | Commercial Property Expert Witness |
Keygrove Chartered Surveyors is pleased to announce that Richard Nevines, Director and owner manager at Keygrove has successfully achieved his Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence (APAEWE) for commercial property. Expert witnesses have an important role within the justice system, but they need more than technical competence to be effective. It is essential that they can fulfil their roles and responsibilities to collect, write and if required give evidence at hearings in accordance with the prescribed law and practice for witnesses. Richard says: “This is an independent quality mark promoted by our governing body the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and it is organised and run by experienced litigation solicitors. It is a Masters equivalent qualification addressing practical witness familiarisation and reporting techniques”. He continues: “I have been a commercial property valuation specialist for over 25 years. This qualification compliments my ability to advise litigation lawyers, their clients and the courts on property litigation matters”. For further information, please contact: Richard Nevines, Keygrove Chartered Surveyors 023 8063 5333 rhn@keygrove.com | |
| | | | “It’s good to talk” - Advice to tenants |  Tim Haine, Director of Commercial Property Management at Keygrove Chartered Surveyors explains how early discussion with your landlord or their managing agent can help reduce the difficulties that rent arrears can cause. Recent industry figures have shown a surge in the number of tenants with rent arrears. Businesses must continue to combat the difficulties of the uncertain economic climate but there is also the ever present financial obligation of rent payments for business premises. This obligation cannot be ignored. Too many businesses leave it too late to acknowledge serious financial issues. Reaching the stage where they are unable to pay rent is not the best time to start talking to the landlord or managing agent about financial difficulties. A landlord is far less likely to be sympathetic to any plea for leniency or assistance if no prior effort has been made to avert the situation. The vast majority of commercial leases require rent to be paid quarterly or monthly in advance and include provisions for interest to accrue on late payments. It does not take long for this to become a financial burden once rent payments are suspended. Many landlords use their rental income to cover the payments on their own borrowing and unexpected disruption to this cash flow can cause severe difficulties; particularly with their banks in the current climate. They will need to safeguard their own business by strictly enforcing the terms of the lease. In the case of rent collection it is a relatively simple matter for the landlord to send bailiffs or lodge a money claim online. As a leaseholder, if you foresee yourself or your company experiencing genuine difficulty in paying the rent, you need to speak to your landlord or their managing agent as soon as you become aware of a potential problem. You should be prepared to provide supporting evidence to demonstrate your difficulties, for example your management accounts and bank statements may be requested. Should the landlord be willing to grant a concessionary rent, increased payment period or other payment plan, they may well require you to discuss your business plan with them or their advisors. If your difficulty is genuine, you would be foolish to refuse reasonable requests for this information or action on your part. During the economic downturn, many landlords have experienced tenants ‘crying wolf’ over financial difficulties in order to negotiate a reduction in rent, which has made it even more essential for this supporting information to be made available. 7 tips for tenants struggling to pay their rent - Be aware of the due dates for your rent (and any other charges) and exactly what is owed – where possible ensure that payments are made on time and to the right place - double check account details or to whom cheques should be made payable to if you are at all unsure
- If you miss a payment date don’t wait to be chased for payment. Contact the landlord or their agent and explain the situation
- Be truthful - don’t make up excuses for non payment and don’t say you will pay on a certain date unless you are 100% sure you can – one missed payment date can be forgiven but miss a subsequent one on which you have promised to deliver and you look unreliable and untrustworthy
- Be open to discussion on how to address any difficulty, be ready to provide supporting information – no informed landlord will simply let you off your rent if you say you can’t pay it, no matter how much you may feel they ought to!
- Remember the lease between you and the landlord governs the formal business relationship you have with them. It is a contract and what is in the lease, a document that both you and the landlord agreed and signed, is ultimately legally enforceable. Neither you nor the landlord is under any obligation to do anything differing from what is set out in the lease. The only way that the obligations in the lease can be changed is by mutual agreement. Payment of rent is one of the more readily enforceable obligations.
- Take advice from legal and property professionals – this may seem like an extra and unnecessary cost when cost cutting is top of the agenda but it will invariably save you more than you pay in fees. Many tenants are surprised by certain obligations within the lease and much bad feeling and financial pain can be caused in the enforcement of these obligations. Problems can be avoided if professional advisors are employed at an early stage to clarify your responsibilities under the lease. Remember your landlord’s agent or solicitor is acting for the landlord and therefore cannot advise you.
- And finally The Golden Rule: Communicate any problems with payment of due monies as early as possible. As with any debt, if you ignore it, matters will invariably get worse.
It is not only good to talk but essential! Tim Haine. Director Commercial Propert Management |
| | | | Optimism as Keygrove Chartered Surveyors take on new staff | 
Keygrove Chartered Surveyors is leading the way amongst Southampton’s commercial property agents by taking on new staff, having recently recruited Tej Singh BSc MSc to assist with commercial agency and lease advisory services.
Tej, aged 27 and originally from Southampton, won the 2010 Minerva Prize for the top placed graduate on the MSc course at London South Bank University and joined Keygrove having previously worked for property consultants in London and Southampton.
Andrew Archibald, Director of Keygrove, says “It is a difficult market for commercial property but we are involved in many exciting projects and we feel this is the time of the economic cycle to invest.”
Tej Singh continues “These are exciting times for me coming back to my home city, starting a new job with an aspiring firm like Keygrove and to top it off I am also about to get married.”
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| | | | Southampton agents get together at Dukes Keep marketing reception |  The great and the good of the Southampton Commercial Property Agents met together for breakfast recently to celebrate the completion of the exterior refurbishment of Dukes Keep, the multi-storey landmark offices in Marsh Lane, Southampton, between Ocean Village and the City Centre.
The marketing reception was hosted by joint agents Keygrove Chartered Surveyors and CB Richard Ellis and the guests were treated to the great views of both the City Centre and Southampton Water from the 13th floor. Chris Mitchell of Maughan Mitchell won the raffle prize which was a £500 lastminute.com voucher (please see attached photo).
The recent external refurbishment at Dukes Keep includes new signage, external redecoration, improved landscaping and car parking arrangements. The attractive exterior downlighting will become more apparent as we head into Autumn.
The joint agents Keygrove and CBRE have their work cut out as there is lots of office space to let! They are offering refurbished floor plates from 4,264 – 5,685 sq ft up to a total availability of 60,000 sq ft approx with car parking at the rate of 1 space per 1,000 sq ft and a quoting rent of £12 per sq ft. |
| | | | Commercial Property agents gather at Hounsdown House |  Keygrove Chartered Surveyors and BNP Paribas Real Estate hosted a breakfast reception recently for over 30 commercial property agents at the 14,000 sq ft office building, Hounsdown House, Hounsdown Business Park, Totton.
Andrew Archibald, Director of Keygrove says “We wanted a forum to announce a new marketing initiative to commercial property agents as we have recently reduced the rent on this property to only £10 per sq ft which is ultra competitive for Grade A quality offices and we can offer suites from only 3,400 sq ft.”
All agents present at the breakfast were entered into a prize draw on the morning for a £500 holiday voucher and this was won by Richard Pullen of Pullen Associates.
Photo attached of Philip Holmes of BNP Paribas Real Estate, Richard Pullen of Pullen Associates and Andrew Archibald of Keygrove Chartered Surveyors. |
| | **news** 07 March 2011 | Bourne Again - Test Valley Borough Council to Breathe New Life
into Sandy Lane, Romsey Site | |  The former Bourne Training property in Sandy Lane, Romsey that has been lying vacant for over a year has been bought by Test Valley Borough Council for a new depot. The property was on the market with Keygrove Chartered Surveyors, the Southampton based commercial property agents at a quoting price of £750,000.
Bourne Training had operated from the hidden away 3.5 acre site and offices in Sandy Lane for over 10 years but fell into receivership in 2009 and before this it was owned by Bryant Seeds. Since falling empty it had suffered from break-ins and vandalism.
Andrew Archibald, Director of Keygrove says “We had loads of interest, mainly from developers looking at both residential and commercial development opportunities.”
Keygrove sold the property on behalf of a private pension fund.
Photo attached of Bourne House, Sandy Lane.
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| | **news** 03 March 2011 | | Refurbishment Works Starts in Chandlers Ford | | The refurbishment of a prominent 13,100 sq ft industrial warehouse building in School Lane, Chandlers Ford Industrial Estate has commenced. The former Hartwells car workshop is being completely modernised in anticipation of an upturn in the demand from occupiers. The detached building, currently known as Winchester House, is to have a modern two storey office extension built on the School Lane frontage which will transform the appearance and it will also be re-roofed, re-clad and upgraded throughout to meet modern day expectations.
 Letting agents Keygrove Chartered Surveyors and joint agents are confident that the refurbishment will meet market demand, possibly from trade counter and showroom occupiers. Mark Douglas of Keygrove says “the refurbished building will provide approximately 11,000 sq ft of light open factory warehouse space with 2,000 sq ft of modern new offices, an impressive entrance, and the benefit of separate office and workshop WC’s. It is also one of the few prominent buildings on the estate with a large secure yard at the rear as well as plenty of frontage car parking.”
Andrew Archibald also comments “we are seeing signs of recovery in the industrial and warehouse sectors. When leases come to an end occupiers are relocating to upgrade the quality of their buildings and Winchester House will prove very attractive when the refurbishment is completed in July.” |
| | **news** 26th January 2011 | | Keygrove Chartered Surveyors 10th Anniversary Party | | In January 2011 Keygrove Chartered Surveyors was 10 years old and the Directors have celebrated in style with a champagne reception for clients at the new Ordnance Survey headquarters at Adanac Park, Nursling.
 In his speech to more than 100 guests Richard Nevines MRICS, founding Director and co-owner of Keygrove, said, “Keygrove is proud to be celebrating 10 years of service to clients in Southampton and central Southern England. We remain an independent commercial property consultancy offering Director level service tailored to our clients’ needs. We believe our continued success is down to our independent thinking, excellent market knowledge and teamwork.”
Director of Agency, Andrew Archibald also spoke to thank Ordnance Survey as well as expressing his view on the commercial property market, saying “Economic conditions are tough and bank lending is slow. Cash is king! Rental income is king too! There is considerable downward pressure on rents and prices and landlords are having to swallow particularly hard to accept the terms being offered by tenants.”
Director of Commercial Property Management Tim Haine completed the formalities by announcing the launch of Keygrove’s new-look website www.keygrove.com and concluding “Despite the economic climate Keygrove has continued to grow, we are positive for the future outlook of our business and we look forward to the next 10 years of business and beyond!” |
| | **news** 1st January 2011 | | Keygrove Chartered Surveyors Celebrates 10 Years | | In January 2011 Keygrove Chartered Surveyors is 10 years old!! Over this period the business has thrived on offering both private and corporate property owning clients imaginative property solutions with Director level service, independent thinking, attention to detail and excellent market knowledge.
Richard Nevines MRICS, founding Director and co-owner of Keygrove, says, “Keygrove is proud to be celebrating 10 years of excellent service to clients in Southampton and central
Southern England. We remain an independent commercial property consultancy offering a service tailored to our clients’ needs and with in excess of 50 years combined property experience. Our continued success is down to our stability and dependability.”
Despite the economic downturn Keygrove has continued to grow and with co-owner and Director of Agency, Andrew Archibald and Director of Commercial Property Management, Tim Haine, Keygrove is positive for the future outlook.
"We look forward to the next 10 years of business and beyond!" |
| | **news** 29th October 2010 | | Hedge End Offices Let within Days | | 
If proof was needed that the Southampton and M27 corridor office lettings market is beginning to show signs of improvement then the announcement by Stonebridge Corporate Ltd’s of the opening of its new Southern Regional Office is a good start. Stirling House, St John’s Road, Hedge End was only on the market a few weeks through letting agents Keygrove Chartered Surveyors and Stonebridge took possession the day after the previous tenant vacated.
Established in 2005, Stonebridge Corporate Ltd is a privately owned independent insurance intermediary, specialising in the mid-corporate, property and construction sectors. The new Hedge End office will cover Southampton and the South Coast.
Andrew Archibald, Director of Keygrove Chartered Surveyors, commented “It is good to see a company on the expansion trail and I have never before collected the keys of an office from the departing tenant and given them to the new occupier on the same day! Both are encouraging signs.”
Stonebridge Corporate Managing Director Ben Burford commented. “We see the Southampton market as a major growth area and we are delighted to have secured the services of such a high profile figure as Adrian Beale as our Regional Director in this, the first of our planned regional centres.”
Adrian, former Managing Director of Bridle Insurance Brokers, is a well known personality within the Southampton insurance market, bringing with him a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise. He will be joined by Tim Richardson, David LeBrocq, Shayn Bailey and Dianne Battrick.
For Further information please contact Adrian Beale or Ben Burford at Stonebridge on 01489 799741 or Andrew Archibald at Keygrove Chartered Surveyors on 023 8063 5333 or ada@keygrove.com
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| | **news** 23rd August 2010 | | Snow and Ice should be less of a problem this winter! | |  The Southampton region should be safer from disruption from snow and ice this coming winter following Nationwide Gritting & Salt Supply Services relocating to a new headquarters depot at Rushington Business Park, Totton that was on the market with Keygrove Chartered Surveyors, the Southampton based commercial property agents. Nationwide Gritting & Salt Supply Services has taken a 10 year lease of the 1.1 acre site.
NGS provide a gritting, snow ploughing, snow clearing, manual gritting and salt supply service from depots across the country to clients that include Councils, the NHS and Ministry of Defence. They are also independent importers of salt and helped supply many of the companies that ran out last year.
Andrew Archibald, Director of Keygrove commented “NGS provide a vital service that we all rely on during the winter months. It is important that they are close to the main arterial roads and motorway network as well as being away from residential homes and Rushington Business Park is an excellent location on the edge of Southampton.”
Rakesh Ram, General Manager of NGS said "Keygrove have been key in providing the support, advice and assistance for the completion of the deal.
Further information on NGS can be found at http://www.nationwidegrittingservices.co.uk/
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| | **news** 17th August 2010 | | Deal Hat-trick at Chandlers Ford | |  Acting on behalf of family-run business, Southampton Builders Ltd, Keygrove Chartered Surveyors and Joint Agents have completed a trio of property deals on the Chandlers Ford Industrial Estate.
Unit 2 Discovery Park, Brickfield Lane, a 4,380 sq ft modern industrial unit, has been let to Recuperma UK Ltd – a German firm specialising in metal recycling machinery and equipment. A new five year lease has been agreed, at a rent of £32,000 per annum. Further industrial space at Unit 2 Warrior Park, Eagle Close, totalling 3,385 sq ft, has been let to Freedom Air Conditioning at a rent of £18,000 per annum. Freedom Air Conditioning is expanding, being already located in Eastleigh. Finally, an office suite of 1,250 sq ft at Anchor House, School Lane has been let to Arlington Accountants at a rent of £15,662 per annum.
 Southampton Builders Ltd has owned and developed the majority of Chandlers Ford Industrial Estate over the last 30-40 years. Andrew Archibald, Director of Keygrove, says “Our clients have continually reinvested in the Estate and as units become vacant, full refurbishment programmes have been carried out to modernise and maintain the quality of the units. Plans are now in place to redevelop parts of the estate.”
“The latest new tenants were attracted to the estate because of the quality of the refurbished units, which acknowledge the demands of the modern occupier. Work is due to start imminently on Winchester House, School Lane, which will be partly redeveloped and fully refurbished to provide an impressive 13,000 sq ft industrial showroom unit with main road prominence. We anticipate a lot of interest in this building from trade counter occupiers, especially given the estate’s location and proximity to the M3 and M27.”
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| | **news** 07th May 2010 | | Bedding Down in Shirley High Street | |  The Bed Shop Shirley has opened in Shirley High Street by taking a new lease of the former Shirley Stationers shop unit at 1 Gordon Buildings that was on the market with Keygrove Chartered Surveyors, the Southampton based commercial property agents.
Bed Shop’s expansion is their second shop and follows hot on the heels of the first store in High Street, Eastleigh which opened in August 2009, after trade exceeded expectations despite the recession.
Chris Croll managing director says “The Bed Shop provides good old fashioned service back on the high street. We have re-introduced the concept of a bedding shop on the high street with helpful staff who listen to and assist customers. Our shops have been greeted with a very positive customer reaction as not everyone has the means of visiting the big out-of-town retail parks, and when they do they are inevitably met with a bewildering choice of beds and lack of service.”
Mark Douglas of Keygrove says “It is great to see small local retail occupiers moving back into high street locations when more glamorous national retailers seem to be struggling or moving away.”
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| | **news** 05th February 2010 | | Barden UK Power into Segensworth | | 
Barden UK Ltd are heading to Segensworth West on the expansion trail as they move into larger new premises at Little Park Farm Road. They have purchased the 8,800 sq ft former Contax Business Unit which was on the market with Southampton based Keygrove Chartered Surveyors at an asking price of £750,000.
Barden UK Ltd was established in 1994 as a battery and power solutions provider to the trade and retail markets. Over the years the product range has increased and now includes Batteries, Chargers, Inverters, Solar and Wind Turbines for all applications and markets.
Managing Director Andy Cooper says, “Due to significant growth over the last few years we have decided to move to larger premises at Unit 5, Little Park Farm Road, Segensworth West. This relocation will enable further expansion and growth throughout UK and Europe whilst ensuring our high quality service levels are maintained."
Keygrove Director Andrew Archibald adds “we are finding that industrial and office occupiers with established businesses who can raise equity are in the market to buy rather than rent and there are very few quality properties on the market to choose from.”
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