VERVE

The Verve mix of specialist market knowledge, creative input and proactive estate management is applied to successfully reposition property into higher value markets.

Verve develop brownfield sites and regenerate existing buildings.

Verve are committed to environmentally and socially aware commercial space and housing.

Verve have a passion for developing unusual buildings with industrial heritage and know that the key to successful places is in the quality of design, effective estate management and the mix of inhabitants.

Ashley Nicholson is responsible for some of the more innovative developments. A pioneer in such diverse markets as new media studios, courtyard offices, residential lofts and mixed-use communities as well as numerous niche market plays.

Tim Pain has a proven track record in adding significant value to tired investments through the application of creative management, refurbishment and branding. He is experienced in creating strong partnerships between owner and occupier, ensuring continuous and positive cashflow.

PAINTWORKS Phase 1, Bristol

Paintworks is a 12 acre regeneration project on the site of a former Victorian paint factory.

In Phase 1, 65,000sq.ft. (6,039sq.m.) of the existing buildings were converted to provide a variety of studio/offices, live/work and residential spaces centred around cobbled streets, courtyards & cafe bar and an event/exhibition venue.

Phase 1 was completed in 2006. Although no extensive formal marketing campaign was carried out the profile of the development quickly grew. The spaces all let or sold by word of mouth.

PAINTWORKS Phase 1, Bristol

The aim was to create an entirely new, vibrant, mixed-use district out of a previously derelict industrial complex.

Drawing heavily on the intimate street patterns of historic town centres, and aimed at creative-minded people & companies, Paintworks seeks to build an interactive community, to provide a focal point and catalyst for the regeneration of the surrounding area.

www.paintworksbristol.co.uk

PAINTWORKS Phase 2, Bristol

Phase 2 comprises 75,000sq.ft. (6,968sq.m.) of 1920s - 1950s factories and an Art Deco former administration building. The majority has been let to the TV production company Endemol. The balance is being converted is due to be completed by the end of 2007.

The Art Deco building is being restored into studio/offices. An additional floor provides 7 apartments.

The balance of the space is made up of an iconic diner/coffee house & shop and studio/office buildings for sale.

PAINTWORKS Phase 3, Bristol

Phase 3 is the most modern section of the site mainly consisting of 1960s and 1970s warehouses.

Whilst a small element utilises the frames and slabs of existing buildings, it is essentially a new-build scheme. In layout and spirit it replicates the principles of phases 1 and 2. Intimate streets, arcades and courtyards encouraging interaction and a seamless mix of uses.

PAINTWORKS Phase 3, Bristol

Discussions are ongoing with the Local Authority to include a series of social initiatives and programmes centred on training and sustainability. The scheme is intended to be highly eco-friendly in its aspirations and delivery.

Current proposals include 150,000sq.ft. (13,935sq.m.) of business (from start-up space upwards), live/work, 185 residential units, cafes, bars and creche.

VAUXHALL STREET Vauxhall, London SE11

Former mint building of 34,000sq.ft. (3,159sq.m.) immediately opposite the gas holders at the Oval cricket ground. let to a variety of industrial storage tenants and artists consented for conversion into attractive studio/offices.

Work commenced in 2007 to refurbish some vacant studio/office buildings for sale/to let, centred around a newly created courtyard. A new self-contained office building and a free standing live/work building will also be built as part of this phase.

By creating the new courtyard the building access will be turned around and as other space falls vacant over the next few years, so a rolling programme of refurbishment will take place.

POOPART'S YARD Third Cross, Twickenham

Former Victorian jam factory. Part vacant, part let to a freight packaging company specialising in the antiques industry.

The buildings, which total 45,000sq.ft. (4,181sq.m.) has consent to be converted into studio/offices centred around a series of cobbled roads. The vacant land has planning consent for residential redevelopment.

1892 Sans Walk, Clerkenwell

A development of eleven work spaces totalling approx 10,000sq.ft. (929sq.m.) converted from a former prison, over which a listed Victorian school was built. The mixed-use spaces form part of a 70,000sq.ft. (6,503sq.m.) residential/commercial conversion close to Clerkenwell Green, for which Verve were involved in masterplanning an JV role with the housebuilder.

The listed school was built in 1892 on the remains of older structures so that the lower ground level incorporates the fabric of older buildings including the 18th Century prison.

The programme of regeneration has introduced natural light, contemporary design and materials while retaining the disctinctive character of the spaces in a very complicated set of physical circumstances and listed building consents.

THE PRINTWORKS Kew Gardens, London W4

The Printworks is part of a mixed-use development. The 16,750sq.ft (1,556sq.m.) of offices are arranged in seven rebuilt Victorian industrial buildings surrounding a cobbled mews in Kew Village, west London. Floor areas range from 565 to 1,315sq.ft. The residential element of the scheme consists of 14 apartments developed by Laing Homes.

The programme of regeneration emphasised the original industrial aesthetic of this ex-printworks while at the same time creating office space equipped for the 21st century.

The objective was to provide contemporary workspace in an alternative suburban location for the type of image-conscious company more commonly associated with central London locations such as Clerkenwell, South Bank or Soho.

BIG RED OFFICE Princess Street, Manchester

In the heart of the Canal Street area, better known locally as The Village. The Big Red Office is a listed Victorian former textile warehouse of 44,000sq.ft. (4,090sq.m.), currently used as offices and two nightclubs in the basement.

During refurbishment by previous owners most of the building's historic industrial features were covered up. Verve embarked on a rolling programme of works to expose and restore the innate character of the building while at the same time introducing a contemporary aesthetic more in keeping with the area and its inhabitants. Flexible and inclusive leases were developed to appeal to growing companies.

KENNINGTON ROAD Kennington, London SE11

Conversion of a former pressure meter factory into a television studio let to Cactus TV, producers of the Richard and Judy Show.

Alternative plans prepared for attractive mixed scheme of residential, live/work and commercial uses.

The balance of the site was sold off for mixed-use redevelopment.

The original site area was just under 1 acre (0.4 ha).

THE MARKET BUILDING High Street, Brentford

Verve has transformed the previously vacant former Inland Revenue offices into bright, inexpensive space for multi-occupancy 25,000sq.ft. (2,325sq.m.).

An unsightly service yard has been covered over with a new courtyard deck now used as a meeting and eating space for tenants, the remaining tired accommodation will be refurbished on a rolling programme of works as spaces become vacant.

Planning has been obtained for four new-build penthouse flats on the roof.

ST LAWRENCE HOUSE Broad Street, Bristol

St Lawrence House is a good quality office building in a vibrant central Bristol location but is completely devoid of any image. Amazingly for such a big building it is invisible. Verve's proposal is to transform the non-descript front garden by building a new coffee shop opening onto a new public space which also has a flower kiosk converted out of an undercroft currently used for smokers. The office reception will then be accessed through this new public area.

Other proposals include transforming the cafe on Quay St into a cafe bar linked to the new public space in front of the building and constructing 4 flats above a car park deck. The developments totals approx 48,000sq.ft. (4,460sq.m.).

CRANE MEWS Twickenham

This collection of former industrial buildings totalling 17,000sq.ft. (1,579sq.m.) has a colourful past. Previous uses include stables, Grubb’s cycle works, First World War grenade production and manufacture of ‘Mercury’ cars.

Converted into individual studio/office buildings and available for sale or rent, they offer small local businesses the ability to occupy their own, highly individual, self contained building. All are arranged around pedestrian courtyards and the majority benefit either from access to the river, or a private patio for those outdoor meetings and for general chillout. The whole development is gated for added security.

www.cranemews.com

LAST BUT LEASED

[1] Alconbury, Cambridgeshire

129,000 sq ft of sheds on a 9.5 acre site adjacent to the A1(M) producing an income of £225,000. Verve purchased the site in October 1999 and sold for redevelopment in July 2000 after the adjacent site was bought by an agricultural business for development into a distribution depot.

[2] Daventry, Northamptonshire

Verve bought this vacant 7,000 sq ft B1 building in Jan 2000. Shortly afterwards, following a letting to Mattel, the resulting investment was sold.