A £10 million programme to transform the Hodge House office building in central Cardiff is now under way.

Owner Legal & General has embarked upon major refurbishment works to create 110,000 sq ft of contemporary office space within the neo-classical Portland stone Grade II listed building on St Mary Street. While the building’s unique features – such as the period staircase off St Mary Street and the old vaulted ballroom on the fifth floor – are being restored and enhanced, six floors of large open-plan modern offices are being created, together with a striking atrium.

The works, which are being carried out by Paramount Interiors, are due to be completed by the end of 2019.

Property consultants Knight Frank and Fletcher Morgan have been appointed by Legal & General as letting agents.  Matthew Phillips, managing partner of Knight Frank in Cardiff said:

“The refurbishment of this significant city centre character building will create the Grade A space that today’s occupier wants – full of character, large floor plates of over 19,000 sq ft with exposed services and new mechanical and electrical systems, and good bicycle and changing room facilities.”

John James of Fletcher Morgan added:

“Hodge House has a superb central location opposite the Stadium and in close proximity to Central Square, very close to main public transport hubs and with all the amenities of central Cardiff at hand  – it’s a very attractive proposition.”

Legal & General has been a major investor and employer in Cardiff for a number of years.  It financed the nearby Central  Square – one of the UK’s biggest regeneration stories and earlier this year announced that it has invested £200 million in new trains for the Wales & Borders franchise.

At Hodge House Legal & General will devote part of the available space to creating 4,000 sq ft suites under its Capsule brand of flexible ‘furnished & work ready’  offices.  Occupiers will benefit from fully fitted-out office space with digital connectivity and a simplified leasing process.