Empty floor of the Mailbox to reopen as a 47,000 sq ft flexible business centre

A large part of Birmingham's Mailbox that has stood empty is coming back to life, with a new flexible workspace, the Mailbox Business Centre, due to open this month.

The centre will turn 47,170 sq ft of disused office space on the first floor of the canalside landmark into high-specification offices that businesses can rent by the month.

Flexible space in a famous building

The Mailbox Business Centre will be run by Chadwick Flexspace Solutions, and is designed to meet growing demand for flexible, managed workspace in the city centre. Instead of committing to a traditional long-term commercial lease, businesses will be able to choose highly customisable managed offices for a monthly fee.

Firms moving in will join existing Mailbox occupiers including the BBC, the engineering consultancy WSP and the practice Associated Architects.

Mailbox bosses say the development reinforces their "office-led vision" for the building and "marks an exciting step in the evolution of the iconic mixed-use destination".

"An important step for Mailbox"

Fraser Ramage of Martley Capital, the Mailbox's asset manager, said: "Bringing this space back into operation with an established local operator is an important step for Mailbox and for our wider asset management strategy."

"Chadwick Flexspace Solutions has a strong track record in Birmingham, and this agreement supports our commitment to providing occupiers with high-quality workspace in a market that continues to evolve."

Patrick Maher, commercial director at Chadwick Flexspace Solutions, said: "Mailbox is one of Birmingham's most iconic destinations. We are delighted to partner with Martley Capital Group to create a vibrant and successful business centre that complements the existing occupier base and meets the ever-growing demand for exceptional, high-quality, serviced and managed workspace environments."

A year of change at the Mailbox

The opening is a welcome boost after a year of change at the former Royal Mail sorting office. Harvey Nichols has announced it will close its department store in January, and the building has also lost The Cube hotel, Marco Pierre White's Steakhouse and Restaurant at the Woods, and the Aluna cocktail bar this year. On the brighter side, a new K-Pop Korner shop opened in August.

Bringing tens of thousands of square feet of empty space back into use, and with it more people working in the building every day, should help support the shops, cafés and restaurants that remain, as well as the wider Wharfside and Gas Street area.

Interested?

Businesses looking for space have been encouraged to register their interest early. For small and growing firms, flexible workspace can be a way to secure a city centre address with good rail and tram links, close to New Street station, without the commitment of a long lease.