Brewin Dolphin takes first bite at landmark office development

Brewin Dolphin, one of Britain’s biggest independent investment managers, has been signed up as the first key tenant in the landmark office development under construction next to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The firm is taking 48,000sq ft of the Grade A space in Atria, equal to a quarter of the building, and bringing staff in its three offices in the city together from June next year.

Its investment management teams currently operate from Drumsheugh Gardens, Stocktrade – the execution-only broking operation – is in George Street and its business support and risk and regulation departments are based in Princes Street.

Marc Wilkinson, head of Brewin Dolphin in Edinburgh, said: “This consolidation will give us further room for expansion and it will be very positive to bring all Brewin Dolphin staff in Edinburgh under one roof. We are excited about the move and are already working with the design team and contractor on our fit-out.”

Atria Edinburgh is split between two buildings and is the only speculative city centre office development outside London and the south-east to offer more than 100,000sq ft by early 2013.

Jones Lang LaSalle and Montagu Evans are acting as agents. Hugh Rutherford, partner at Montagu Evans, said: “The severe shortage of Grade A office space in the city centre, the lack of new development and the number of existing occupiers in Edinburgh who have forthcoming lease breaks or terminations means that it is an ideal time for Atria.”