Video transcript – Lancaster Buildings

Simone: It seems like we are taking a trip down memory lane today with people in 1930’s clothes outside the building is there a special event going on?

Trudi: Yes there is it’s a Finest event. Finest is the professional’s services network for North Staffordshire and they have a lot of events over the year but they are actually having one at Lancaster Buidings, it’s recently been refurbished and it’s a chance for people to have a look round.

Simone: So what was the building like before and what has actually been done to it?

Trudi: Well it’s always been an office unit but with the new disability act coming in it’s had to be made compliant with various regulations, so there has been quite a lot of work done inside because as you can imagine in the 1930’s when this building was made it wasn’t suitable for that sort of use.

Simone: So how much has the work cost and how has it been funded?

Trudi: It’s going to be about £2 million the whole project, quite a lot of work has had to be done and it’s come from the Borough Council the bulk of the funding but also Advantage West Midlands have given us about a ½ million pounds for the total project.

Simone: So why was it so important for work to be done at this building?

Trudi: Because it needed refurbishment following the tenant that left and in order to make it suitable for modern usage requirements if you have hi-tech companies now it makes it much more suitable for them and of course it is also now compliant with the disability discrimination act.

Simone: So now that the work has been completed what is the next step?

Trudi: Well, letting it, part of the reason we are having this event today is to introduce it to the professional services sector, and maybe people coming are interested or certainly they have clients and obviously they can go and promote it to people that they know. As I say we want to let the building because it would be good for the local economy and also good for the town centre.

Simone: What type of businesses are you hoping to attract and how will this benefit the town?

Trudi: It’s mainly looking at some sort of professional services but also it would be very suitable for design companies, marketing, business to business a whole range of activities can come here it is a very attractive offices which are suitable for a range of office uses so we look forward to getting some people in and obviously they can use our lovely town centre.

Simone: Great, and spend their money here of course

Trudi: And spend their money here yes

Simone: Is that how it’s going to boost the economy? You here that all the time but what does it actually mean?

Trudi: There is a whole variety of things, people who work here will use the local shops but also they will be entertaining clients so they will start using local hostelries and they might be bringing in caterers or using florists so a lot of the businesses in town will benefit and it’s just nice to have the building bought back into use.