Legal agreements for coworking project finalised
The completion of legal agreements means the next phase of the Council’s partnership with Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq) to create a coworking space in the Town Hall can begin.
The partnership will create a modern workspace in the town hall including coworking, over 60 offices, meeting rooms and an event space, as well as business and startup support. The Council will remain in the building but on a reduced floorplate.
Mandy Weston, Chief Operating Officer at TownSq met Lee Colyer, TWBC Director of Finance to jointly sign the final documents.
Now that the legal formalities are complete the next phase of the project can move forward at pace. The Council has already freed up the area of the building that TownSq will be developing and essential maintenance work has been completed on the fabric of the Town Hall.
The next steps will see interior refurbishment of the coworking area undertaken and a show-space created for earlier occupiers which will also be used for prospective users to see how they could benefit from becoming part of this exciting project.
Councillor Christopher Hall, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Cabinet member for Finance and Performance said:
I am delighted that Town Square are on board. The repurposing of council offices for coworking will be a welcome addition of new office space for local businesses and supports our strategy to grow the local economy and utilize council assets for the benefit of the public. It will also make a significant saving to the Council in running costs which is welcome news as we work through the budget for the next financial year.
Mandy Weston, Chief Operating Officer at TownSq said:
We’re pleased to have concluded the formalities and are excited to get the next phase of this project underway. The Town Hall is an incredible building and we’ve already had a lot of interest in the workspaces.
Having modern and vibrant places to work on the high street is a vital part of any revitalisation, as when people work local, they shop local. With the cost of living so high at the moment, having somewhere to work closer to home and other amenities without huge commuting or office costs is a crucial step towards economic sustainability.
However, our spaces are not just places to work. The support that we offer freelancers and small businesses can help them take that next step. Whether they are looking to get started or get on and grow – we’ve got the programmes and the experts to make it happen. We’ve built these communities across the country, and we’re excited to bring that same success to the heart of Tunbridge Wells.
Lee Colyer, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Director of Finance said:
The freeing up of space within the Town Hall provides an excellent opportunity for small businesses to co-locate in a prime location. The economic boost will ripple throughout the business community as greater use is made of the Town Hall from a more diverse range of activities.
This exciting development provides the Council with an opportunity for cost savings and increased income. Additionally, there are benefits for the wider town community with the increased footfall that will come from businesses locating in this important site in the centre of the town.
Who is Townsq?
Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq) (opens in a new window) creates communities across the UK that foster the creation and growth of enterprise through collaboration, support and leadership.
Coworking and small business experts, TownSq also operate spaces in London, North and South Wales, West Sussex, Oxfordshire and Devon. The founders have more than 10 years experience in coworking and small business support, and can take people from an idea right through to founding, investment and growth. It runs programmes such as Startup Club, which aims to help people who want to start a business but may be unable to leave their job or other day time commitments, along with the Townsq Accelerator to support fast track businesses that are aiming to grow quickly.
How can I contact TownSq to find out more about this coworking space?
Anyone who would like to learn more about the space, or the business support available, can contact TownSq by heading to twtownhall.co.uk (opens in a new window), email tunbridgewells@townsq.co.uk or by calling 01892 328181.
