A North East law firm has become the latest firm to move away from Newcastle Quayside into the city centre to aid its growth.
Parklane Plowden Chambers is relocating from its Newcastle premises in Lombard House to new offices within Portland House in the city centre. The move is part of its strategic growth plans and will also bring them closer to Newcastle Civic Centre where the Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals Centre is located.
The relocation will see Parklane Plowden’s members and team of six clerks, led by chambers’ director Michael Stubbs and practice director Sharon Robson, take up 2,000 sq ft of space on the first floor of the Grade-II listed building on New Bridge Street. Parklane Plowden will join the first round of tenants, including specialist maritime and international trade solicitors, Mills & Co, and business advisors Begbies Traynor Group, which moved into Portland House in April following the multimillion-pound transformation of the former Newcastle Business Society head office by developers Oliver Holland and James Keegan.
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The Grade II listed part of Portland House includes a 19th century maternity hospital designed by famed architect John Dobson. The building was later the local headquarters of the BBC and was used during the filming of the Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake.
Head of chambers James Murphy said: “Our new accommodation at Portland House will provide us with a high quality, flexible workspace in an excellent location in the heart of the city. We pride ourselves on being a vibrant and progressive set and this move demonstrates our commitment to providing excellent outcomes for our clients and being the place where talented people want to work.
“As part of our ongoing investment strategy, which saw the extensive refurbishment of our Leeds premises in 2021, the Newcastle relocation will give us room to grow and welcome more members and staff colleagues.”
Michael Stubbs, chambers’ director, said: “Leaving the quayside after over two decades in Lombard House is an exciting next step for chambers and for our clients. Our core practice areas of chancery and commercial, employment, family and clinical negligence and personal injury have grown dramatically over the last fifteen years and this move will enable us to further build on that success. Our progressive approach to practice management will be reflected in our new and modern workspace. Sharon, the team, and I cannot wait to get settled in and show our loyal clients our new home.”
Parklane Plowden become the third major organisation to announce plans to quit the Quayside for new premises in the city centre, alongside Barclays and Lycetts, both of whom are moving into Bank House.
