The re-opening last month of Quadrant House, a prominent and key building in the heart of Caterham Valley, was a hugely significant moment for the council and an important milestone in our plan to rejuvenate the local economy and town centre.
It is three and a half years since the council bought the building which was constructed in the 1960s and '70s, and it had become a tired and unattractive place: in truth, a blot on the Croydon Road landscape.
The living wall
With £4.9million of investment, using grant funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership, Coast to Capital, it has gone through a transformation, bother internally and, very visibly, eternally, with the fabulous living wall This gives a softer and eye-catching appearance to both the building and to the High Street generally, and should improve air quality.
Quadrant House is a mixed-use building with retail units and restaurants on the ground floor and approximately 38,000 square feet of office space above. It has been modernised throughout, with thermal insulation to the building fabric, replacement of windowns and energy efficient heating and cooling systems to reduce carbon emissions. Apart from looking a great deal better, it is now much more environmentally firendly and sustainable.
Sun terrace
The building is already home to a growing number of businesses and everyone who works there can take a break and step out onto the giant roof terrace and enjoy the far reaching views across the valley and surrounding hills.
In autumn 2020, a new business hub, known as The Workary, opened on the first floor. It offers affordable work space on flexible terms, ideal for start-ups, small businesses and remote workers.
Reinvigorate the local economy
The new Quadrant House is just one part of the counci's plan to reinvigorate the local economy and town centre, and attract more businesses.
We are working with Surrey County Council and the Caterham Business Improvement District to regenerage all of Croydon Road. The next phase is aimed at increasing the enviornmental benefits and attractiveness of the area as more greenery and rain gardens are planted and safety improvements implemented for pedestrians and cyclists.
And, on a larger scale, we are wating for a governement decision about our £8.5million Levelling Up Fund bid, which has the potential to bring substantial improvements across the whole of Caterham.
If you are interested in renting modern and high quality office space in the transformed Quadrant House, please visit Michael Rodgers LLP and contact David Smith on 01737 230739 or Stiles Harold Williams Partnership and contact Thomas Tarn on 01372 840297.
If you have any comments or questions, please get in touch: Cllr.Catherine.Sayer@tandridge.gov.uk.
Councillor Catherine Sayer is the council leader and leader of the independents and OLRG Alliance, which runs the council with a minority administration.
You can read her past columns here.
