Newly-refurbished Ascent 3 lands discover financial services signings

Hermes Investment Management, the £33.5 billion fund manager, has announced that the Grade A Ascent 3 building at Farnborough Aerospace Centre has secured Discover Financial Services, a leading direct banking and payments services company, which is taking almost 46,000 sq ft for its new UK head office. 

Relocating from Farnborough’s town centre, Discover Financial Services is taking a 12-year lease at the contemporary fully refurbished building. Situated within this prestigious business park in the M3 corridor, Ascent 3 is one of four buildings owned by Hermes Investment Management at Farnborough Aerospace since 2015. The building has been transformed and rebranded as part of an extensive phased redevelopment programme designed by Hale Architecture. It is due for completion in March this year, along with the 75,000 sq ft Ascent 1 building.

The office’s extensive restoration forms part of a wider investment in the business park as a whole,where commitment to enhancing on-site facilities is set to continue, with a gym, café, restaurant and dedicated shuttle service already on offer.  

 Ian Cody, Director - Asset Management, Hermes Investment Management, said: “With an increase in innovative blue chip companies joining Farnborough’s renowned traditional occupiers, this signing proves Hermes Investment Management’s decision to invest capital in the Ascent estate is a timely response to a market gap. We are pleased to welcome Discover Financial Services to Ascent 3 as our first new tenant, and look forward to seeing the company reap the benefits of the building and wider Farnborough Aerospace Centre offering.”  

Jeremy Rodale, Partner, Cushman & Wakefield, said: “Discover Financial Services was looking for an excellent working environment for its staff, and we are thrilled to meet this need with the signing at the redeveloped Ascent 3 building.  It is a fantastic endorsement for Ascent, and the ever-improving amenities at Farnborough Aerospace Centre. We are confident this marks the beginning of an exciting working community as we continue to liaise with numerous other occupiers keen to acquire space.” 

Hermes Investment Management appointed Canmoor as strategic advisors throughout the refurbishment and letting process. Cushman & Wakefield and Hollis Hockley acted as leasing agents for Hermes, whilst CBRE acted for Discover Financial Services. 

The Ascent buildings equate to 250,000 sq ft of office space with over 1,200 parking spaces. Farnborough Aerospace Centre is the corporate headquarters for BAE Systems with Zurich Insurance, Infor, Fluor and Lockheed Martin also represented on the estate. Well-connected and just minutes away from Farnborough town centre, providing direct trains to London Waterloo (30 minutes), the Ascent buildings are also adjacent to Farnborough Airport (private charter) and in close proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The A3 and Jct4 of the M3 are also both easily accessible, providing excellent connectivity for occupiers’ employees. 

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Amanda McNally via amandamcnally@averpr.com

Clare McInerney via claremcinerney@averpr.com

For further information on Hermes Investment Management please contact:

Clare Hartshorne / Rob Foster / Eleanor Parry

hermes@redwoodconsulting.co.uk / 020 7828 5553 / 07515 050 335

Notes to Editors: 

About Hermes Investment Management

Hermes Investment Management, a Federated Investors company, provides world-class active investment management and stewardship services. Hermes, headquartered in London, manages £33.5 billion in assets and offers a broad range of specialist, high-conviction investment strategies spanning listed equities, credit, real estate, infrastructure, private debt and private equity. Hermes’ strategies focus not just on financial results, but also on delivering outcomes beyond performance: holistic returns that consider impacts to society, the environment and the wider world. In Hermes EOS, the company offers one of the industry’s leading engagement resources, representing £359.0 billion of assets*. For more information, visit www.hermes-investment.com.

* Please note the total AUM figure includes £6.5bn of assets managed or under an advisory agreement by Hermes GPE LLP (“HGPE”), a joint venture between Hermes Fund Managers Limited ("HFM") and GPE Partner Limited. HGPE is an independent entity and not part of the Hermes group. £19.0m of total group AUM figure represents HFM mandates under advice. Source: Hermes as at 31 December 2018 with the exception of two portfolios totalling £3.5m valued as at 30 September 2018. 

Ascent

Ascent comprises four contemporary office buildings within the Farnborough Aerospace Centre, one of the leading business parks in the M3 corridor, and home to the likes of BAE Systems, Infor, Lockheed Martin, Fluor and Zurich.​ 

​ Benefitting from excellent accessibility, Ascent is situated close to A331, giving access to the A3, Jct 4 of the M3.  Farnborough town centre is also just minutes away and provides direct trains to London Waterloo (40mins).  In addition, the Ascent buildings are adjacent to Farnborough Airport (private charter) and in close proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick airports.  The Ascent Buildings equate to 244,000 sq ft of office space with over 1,200 parking spaces and provide a modern day working environment built to an exceptional standard.

 ​ Set in established parklands with an adjacent golf course, Ascent features first class connectivity through telecomms fibre, and a range of workforce amenities including two cafés, gym, dry cleaning drop/collect, ATM, car rental, conferencing facilities, cycle racks, electrical charging points and shuttle bus from Farnborough Station.  ​ 

Sustainability is also at the heart of Ascent, and we are targeting ‘Excellent’ by BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method).​ 

Canmoor
Canmoor is a leading private commercial property business. Since inception it has transacted in excess of £1.5billion of investment joint ventures and has a development programme in excess of £350 million. Canmoor is a recognised market leader in the warehouse and business space sectors. Based in London and Manchester the team has national coverage with local expertise. www.canmoor.com
 
Twitter: @AscentOffices / Instagram: @Ascent_Offices  / Website: www.ascentfarnborough.co.uk