The landmark, four-storey Queen Victoria House on Alfred Gelder Street, a modern 1980s office block, has been acquired from a private investor for Hull City Council by the Leeds Office Agency team.

The 36,000 ft² property is about to be refurbished and will be used by Hull City Council’s city centre customer services team from this autumn. The team is currently based in Kenworthy House, George Street, but has outgrown its current accommodation which also lacks the facilities it would like to provide to customers.

Hull City Council property manager, Dave Bennett says, “The customer services team will occupy the ground floor. This will also have a café and break-out area for customers while they visit the customer service centre facility.

“The council also intends to base other services on the upper floors of Queen Victoria House to complement the customer service centre. The aim will be to reduce the need for customers to visit several different council offices by housing as many services as possible at this single one–stop-shop location which customers regularly visit. 

“It is going to be a big step forward in delivering an improved and more accessible service to the council’s customers. The council is delighted to have acquired the property in a deal in which King Sturge played an expert and crucial role.”

Jonathan Gale, Partner in the King Sturge Leeds office who negotiated the deal on behalf of Hull City Council says, “This is a high-value public sector deal which secures an important and very prominent Hull City centre office building for public use.

“It is a good deal for Hull City Council which has acquired the right property in the right location and shows that good value deals are being done in East Yorkshire even in the tough economic climate.”

Hull-based Scotts acted for the landlord.

For further information please contact:
Jonathan Gale, Office Agency Partner, +44 (0)113 235 5228