Business takes the opportunity

Northbridge may be known as the city’s entertainment, restaurant and arts hub, but the growing number of commercial and mixed-use developments is also driving business to lease office space in the area.

With chronic shortages of office space in the Perth CBD, Northbridge offers business the chance to remain close to the CBD, while taking advantage of the cheaper rents.

The new commercial developments are concentrated at the western end of Northbridge around Newcastle, Francis, William and Beaufort streets.

Global mining software firm Maptek is in the process of moving its Perth office from 200 Adelaide Terrace to a new office development at 190 Aberdeen Street in Northbridge.

Maptek spokesperson Marini Angouw told WA Business News that, after the lease on its Adelaide Terrace office expired, the company looked to relocate instead of renewing the lease because of maintenance problems in the ageing building.

“The new building is brand new and its not far from the city where a lot of our clients are situated,” she said.

Ms Angouw said the company has also saved on costs moving outside of the city, with rents in Northbridge about 35-40 per cent cheaper than in the CBD.

Maptek will take up the ground, first and second floors of the building, with a total of about 1,010 square metres.

The company employs about 50 staff in its Perth office, and took about five days to relocate its entire office.

In addition to the Perth office, Maptek’s other Australian offices are located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Newcastle and Sydney.

Site works have already begun on one of the area’s newest office developments, Francis 101, managed by Centrepoint Realty, located on a former nightclub site.

Construction of the four-level office development is due to commence shortly, and when completed will offer 13 strata title offices with leases available from 101sq m up to full floors of 570sq m, and secure parking.