A FLAGSHIP office building in Dorset which is undergoing a complete makeover has landed its first major tenant.

Synergy Housing Group, one of the largest social housing providers in the Wessex region, is to take the third floor of Link House in West Street, Poole, occupying 9,193 sq ft.

Synergy has signed a 15 year lease, with a break after ten years. The housing group, currently based at Ferndown in Dorset, will use Link House as its main administrative headquarters from the end of August.

Nettleship Sawyer, the Bournemouth-based chartered surveyors and commercial property consultants,.and the Southampton office of CB Richard Ellis are acting as letting agents for the building’s owner, Clark Estates UK Ltd.

Chris Nettleship, Joint Managing Director, Nettleship Sawyer, said:

“This is a significant letting accounting for more than a quarter of the space available at Link House.

There is considerable interest in this refurbished landmark office building and we hope to announce the letting of a further floor in the near future.”

Graeme Stanley, Group Chief Executive, Synergy Housing Group, added:

“I am delighted the Group has secured this prestigious office accommodation at Link House in Poole.

New office accommodation for our corporate headquarters has long been awaited and this is good news for us all.

This move provides us with suitable and well arranged accommodation and enables us to promote the Group in the best possible light.”

Work started on an extensive refurbishment of the five-storey town centre building in January this year with completion scheduled for August.

For many years Link House was the home of advertising publication Exchange & Mart before being acquired, with vacant possession, by Clark Estates UK Ltd in March 2007.

Link House comprises 35,512 sq ft (net internal area) on ground and four upper floors, with 118 designated car parking spaces. The building has commanding views over Poole and the nearby harbour.

The refurbishment work includes new air conditioning, lifts, access flooring, lighting and carpets together with further Disability Discrimination Act compliance upgrades.

Externally, the West Street building is being transformed to provide an ‘as new’ office block and is available to let in substantial parts at a rent of £16.50 per sq ft.