Big demand for revamped Hartlepool town centre office block

Community project Poolie Time Exchange, based in the Burbank area, recently took over the lease of former job centre Bovis House in Victoria Road.

Out of 33 units available for rent, 12 have been snapped up already by a wide range of local businesses and work to create an additional 13 offices is to start ahead of schedule.

Ian Cawley, of Poolie Time Exchange, said: “We have got a dozen businesses on board already and have started building new rooms.

“Our plan was to do that in six months time but there has been that much of a take up we are going to do it straightaway.

“We were hoping to get three of four [tenants] in the first few months, but we have tripled that in the first two weeks.

“We have rented some of the space out before the rooms have been built. People are reserving markings on the floor.”

New tenants include a wide range of start up businesses, more established businesses looking to expand, accountants and tech firms.

Ian added: “There is still a few things to do. In the next few weeks the first ones will be up and running and operating from there.”

Progress is also being made on the creation of a community shop on the ground floor called Poolie Time Emporium with lots of donations of furniture and white goods.

“The public have got on board straightaway,” added Ian.

Any profit from the venture will be ploughed back into community projects.

LilyAnne's Coffee Shop next door is also expanding into the building to help it meet social distancing guidelines when it reopens from lockdown soon.

Bovis House has been empty for a number of years. It was bought for just £1 at auction last year by businessman Joseph Zekaria.

Anyone interested in finding out more about renting space or donating to the Poolie Time Emporium can contact Ian Cawley on 07472 358704.

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