• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Tuesday February 21 2023
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Former Zurich offices at Swindon’s Newbridge Square to undergo £7.5 million transformation

Offices at Newbridge Square in Swindon, which were occupied by insurance giant Zurich before the company moved to its new headquarters nearby, are to undergo a £7.5 million transformation, property owner FI Real Estate Management has announced.

The multi-million-pound project forms part of the wider £1 billion regeneration of Swindon, and is being led by Dominic Knowles, on behalf of FI Estate Management, with a strong emphasis on sustainable design and occupier wellness.

FI Real Estate Management operates an extensive and diverse portfolio which covers over 15 million sq ft, including five million sq ft of new build developments, across the nation, with assets totalling in excess £1.2 billion.

1 Newbridge Square will create a total of 100,000 sq ft of high-quality grade A office space, with flexible floorplates available up to 24,000 sq ft. Work is due to be completed by the end of 2023.

The scheme will see the former home of Zurich Insurance transformed into a modern business address with contemporary, Grade A office and retail space, effectively designed with a user-centred approach – regenerating Swindon’s business district with a full focus on wellness, ESG and a future-proof vision.

The project’s environmental credentials include targets of EPC A, BREEAM Excellent and Net Zero Carbon, through implementation of an environmental management system which minimises onsite energy usage, and specification of materials and products which have a low-carbon impact.

Occupier amenities will include fitness and gym facilities; cycle and scooter provisions; EV charging points; parking spaces; on-site retail and a business lounge.

Dominic Knowles, head of offices at FI Estate Management, commented: “We believe 1 Newbridge Square is a workspace experience never seen before in Swindon – a building that is not just moving with the trends, it’s leading them.

“It’s really exciting to be part of the billion-pound regeneration that’s transforming Swindon for everyone who works and lives here.”

Cushman & Wakefield, Loveday, and Smethurst are acting as joint agents for the office space.

Zurich Insurance recently moved its 1,000 staff into its new purpose-built HQ a few hundred yards away at Unity Place.