The new £9 million Newark Works development has been officially launched, creating a dedicated creative hub for businesses in Bath.
The Newark Works site | Photo © TCN
The Grade-II listed, 40,000 sq ft building located in the city’s new commercial quarter, Bath Quays, was bought in 2016 by regeneration specialist TCN.
The project has seen the restoration of the last surviving historic buildings of engineering company Stothert & Pitt.
The company was an internationally renowned firm founded in Bath, providing the machinery for the construction of the Great Western Railway.
It closed in 1989, bringing an end to Bath’s largest employer at the time. Now, over 30 years later, the buildings have been restored to usher in a new era of enterprise in the city.
Newark Works has been transformed into flexible office spaces for creative and tech industries, with unique and iconic industrial-style offices, accommodating single co-workers through to companies of up to 40 staff.
The restoration and retrofitting of Newark Works see it retain original features, including some of the cranes, as focal points in the building.
Toby Bidwell, Richard Pearce, Simon Martin, Cllr Mark Roper, Robert Hoadley and Claire Smith | Photo © TCN
Working with partners Buro Happold and architects Ferguson Mann, innovative engineering techniques and materials have been used to create a modern workspace in a significant historic building.
Newark Works is a core part of Bath Quays, a flagship regeneration project overlooking the river Avon, which will deliver a new commercial quarter, offering 340,000 sq ft of office space.
The site has been brought forward by Bath and North East Somerset Council who have built No.1 Bath Quays, the first Grade A office space to be built in 30 years in Bath. The offices sit alongside Newark Works.
Richard Pearce, co-founder at TCN, said: “We are beyond excited for Bath to finally see Newark Works in its most complete form after working on the project painstakingly for over 10 years.
“TCN is looking forward to not only bringing a new creative hub to the city, but to having breathed new life into a building of historic significance while using roughly a third of the carbon footprint of a new construction.
“We are eager to deliver an attractive, creative hub for everyone to use, providing inspiring spaces in which bright individuals and innovative companies can truly thrive.”
Councillor Mark Roper, cabinet member for Economic Development, Regeneration and Growth at Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “I am delighted that Newark Works is open.
“The council has been working with TCN on the project for over a decade and they have done a magnificent job of restoring the Grade II listed Stothert & Pitt buildings.
“The development of Bath Quays is progressing well, the new bridge across the river Avon has been opened to pedestrians and cyclists and the public realm works are due to complete imminently.
“We’re proud to have created a new commercial area for the city. Newark Works and No.1 Bath Quays, the first new office to be built in Bath for more than 30 years, offers a fantastic range of office space for new companies or existing businesses looking to expand or relocate and a great location within easy reach of the city centre for staff.”
Claire Smith, Director at Buro Happold Bath office said: “Just a short walk from the Buro Happold offices, the Newark Works and wider Bath Quays regeneration has been something we’ve all been proud to be part of.
“Taking a building with a history of engineering, applying our own expertise, and transforming it into a space designed to meet modern needs has not only given us the opportunity to create high quality workspaces for business and individuals locally, but also pay homage to the rich history of the city.
“We’re looking forward to seeing new talent and businesses make Bath their home.”
