New life for ex-Carillion HQ in Wolverhampton as work starts on makeover

Two floors of the former Carillion House building, on Salop Street in Wolverhampton, will become a part of a Regus franchise and will offer more than 260 workspaces.

Carillion went bust in January 2018, causing around 2,400 direct job losses and a huge knock-on effect to contractors across the industry.

Now its former headquarters will become home to the shared workspace company which offers a range of services for businesses – including equipped offices and meeting rooms – from October.

AB Officers has secured a 10-year lease.

Tom Abuaita, director of AB Offices which is part of Regus GB, said: “It is fantastic to be located in one of Wolverhampton’s landmark buildings, situated in the heart of the city close to local amenities and with parking and transport links on our doorstep.

“We have started in June the first phase of an extensive refurbishment programme to deliver the latest Regus design and will accommodate everyone from start-ups, sole traders to SMEs and corporates.

"Many businesses are looking to adopt a more distributed workforce and a great number of people have realised the benefits of working closer to home.

"With over 260 workspaces and a stunning business lounge, we look forward to providing a great day at work for Wolverhampton’s business community from this October."

The building had been on the market in 2018 for around £3 million before it was sold to Gupta Group for an undisclosed fee.

The private real estate company, run by brothers Ankush and Arjun Gupta, had plans to refurbish the existing 38,000 sq ft building for office space.

The site and its separate car park located near the area are to be redeveloped as part of the £55 million Westside regeneration scheme.

The building, which overlooks Chapel Ash, was not owned by Carillion – they leased it for around £440,000-a-year since it was bought by a private investor in January 2016.

The property dates back to 1977, when it was built by Wolverhampton firm AM Griffiths & Sons as the new "Staffordshire House" headquarters for the Staffordshire Building Society.

It was taken over by Portman, which later became part of the Nationwide Building Society, which moved out in 2007 and left the building empty.

Carillion moved in a year later and the building became its official headquarters seven years later – with around 600 people being based there at one stage.