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One of Scotland’s largest legal firms has expanded its Edinburgh office as it continues to grow.

Burness Paull, based on the third floor of Exchange Plaza in Edinburgh has leased the 16,676 sq ft second floor beneath its current premises, taking its total floor space in the building to 33,353 sq ft.

The deal means the Grade A office building on Lothian Road, which is also home to Cairn Energy plc, Artemis Fund Managers, Leeds Building Society and Brewdog is now fully occupied.

Burness Paull has seen a 30% increase in international instructions over the past 12 months, and taken on 106 staff across the firm in response to the rise in new business. It now employs more than 530 people in Scotland, including 68 partners.

JLL and Knight Frank acted as joint letting agents for the building’s owner, The Lister Property Partnership, who recently refurbished the building installing new air conditioning, metal suspended ceilings and LED lighting.

Cameron Stott, Director at JLL, said: “When Clydesdale Bank vacated Exchange Plaza, there was over a third of the building vacant. However, due to the quality of refurbishment delivered by the landlord and the prestige and prominence of the building, we have had a healthy level of interest in the vacant space and this has resulted in securing a fantastic letting result returning the building to 100% occupancy. Exchange Plaza is undoubtedly once of the most admired buildings in Edinburgh, and this has been backed up by the strength of occupier interest in the office accommodation.”

The building’s full-height seven-storey atrium has also been transformed with the provision of new soft furniture and informal meeting areas.

Neil Gordon, Partner at Eric Young & Co, acted for Burness Paull. He added: “My client’s established home in Edinburgh is Exchange Plaza, and when the opportunity came to expand in the building it was too good an opportunity to miss. With the works undertaken by the landlord and the quality of the proposed refurbishment they were delighted to commit to the longer term in the building.

Toby Withal from joint lettings agents Knight Frank, said: “Exchange Plaza is one of the capital’s most prestigious office buildings and commands a high profile at the centre of central Edinburgh where many corporate and tech occupiers are based.”

Lothian Road offers plentiful amenities and has been further enhanced by new eateries and bars including Beer Kitchen, Byron Burger, Bread Meats Bread and Pret a Manger.

Suites at Exchange Plaza also come with shower facilities, cycle racks and car parking spaces.

Commenting on the decision Tamar Tammes, managing partner at Burness Paull, said: “We are committed to growing the firm sustainably and attracting the very best talent to serve clients. With that comes the need to create a modern, flexible environment for our people, and the expansion of our footprint at Exchange Plaza meets these requirements perfectly.”

Winchburgh Development Partnership has sold a plot on Main Street, Winchburgh to Tiptoes Nursery for £75,000.

The plot comprises a cleared site extending to 0.24 acres.

Winchburgh Development Partnership was represented by Eric Young & Co.

James Inglis Ltd has let 10 Eastgate, Peebles to Trespass.

The unit comprises 833 sq ft (77.4 sq m) of ground floor sales space and 660 sq ft (61.3 sq m) on the first floor and has been let for 5 years at a rental of £20,000 per annum.

James Inglis Ltd was represented by Eric Young & Co.

Canley Properties Ltd has sold 116 High Street, Musselburgh to DLSH Properties Ltd for £175,000.

The ground floor retail unit is let to Vaporized at a rental of £17,500 per annum on a lease expiring 16/11/2021.

The purchaser is the tenant’s investment vehicle.

Canley Properties Ltd was represented by Eric Young & Co.

Mars Pension Trustees Ltd has agreed a lease extension at 6 Unicorn Way, Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes with Max Spielmann.

The unit comprises 503 sq ft (46.73 sq m) of ground floor sales space. The lease has been extended for a further 6 years at a rental of £13,000 per annum.

Max Spielmann was represented by Tom Duffy at Timpson Shoe Repair; Mars Pension Trustees Ltd was represented jointly by Eric Young & Co and Savills.

Weir Property Investments Ltd has agreed a lease variation at 4 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh with User 2 Computers.

The unit comprises 653 sq ft (60.67 sq m) of ground floor sales space and 411 sq ft (38.18 sq m) in the basement with a 10 year lease at a rental of £16,000 per annum.

Weir Property Investments Ltd was represented by Eric Young & Co.

Eric Young & Co has bought 9 St Peters Building, Edinburgh from Stone Blue Property on behalf of an unnamed private investor for £130,000.

The unit comprises 593 sq ft (55.09 sq m) of ground floor sales space and 611 sq ft (56.76 sq m) in the basement.

The purchaser was represented by Eric Young & Co.

Cruden Homes East has let Unit 2 Hyvots Loan, Gilmerton Dykes Street, Edinburgh to Greggs.

The unit comprises 1,313 sq ft (121.98 sq m) of ground floor sales space and has been let for 15 years at a rental of £21,000 per annum.

Greggs was represented by Crichton Property Consultants; Cruden Homes East was represented by Eric Young & Co.

CEPF II Meteor Investments has let Unit 2, 71-7 Murraygate, Dundee to Holland & Barratt.

The unit comprises 2,597 sq ft (241.26 sq m) of ground floor sales space, 2,516 sq ft (233.73 sq m) on the first floor with 2,428 sq ft (225.56 sq m) of additional space. It has been let for 10 years at a rental of £65,000 per annum.

Holland & Barratt was represented by Colliers International; CEPF II Meteor Investments was represented by Eric Young & Co.

Mars Real Estate has let Unit 3/4, 32 High Street, The Artizan Centre, Dumbarton to Energie Gym.

The unit comprises 10,346 sq ft (961.25 sq m) of ground floor sales space and has been let for 15 years at a rental of £60,000 per annum.

Mars Real Estate was represented jointly by Eric Young & Co and Frank Real Estate and HSA Retail.

LCP has let 11 Edinburgh Road, Bathgate to The Original Factory Shop.

The unit comprises 11,400 sq ft (1,059.00 sq m) of ground floor sales space and has been let for 10 years at an undisclosed rental.

LCP was represented by Eric Young & Co.

Therapie has taken new leases at Westfield Stratford and Westfield White City, London.

Stratford unit comprises 818 sq ft (76.02 sq m).
White City unit comprises 715 sq ft (66.45 sq m).

Both units have been let for 10 years with tenant break options in year 5 at an undisclosed rental.

The White City unit opened 15/10/2018 and the Stratford unit opened on 28/10/2018.

Therapie was represented by Eric Young & Co, CBRE represented Westfield White City and Cushman & Wakefield represented Westfield, Stratford.