Pochin starts on Helena Partnerships’ office

Pochin Construction has started work on building a new office for housing association Helena Partnerships.

Designed by KKA Architects, the three storey glass-clad building from developers Milston totals 23,000 sq ft and will provide a new town centre base for around 230 Helena staff, as well as acting as a neighbourhood office for tenants. Helena will lease the office on a long term basis.

The property is located on a site in Corporation Street in St Helens, which was previously home to a St Helens Glass production facility.

The new office will be known as Helena Central and will incorporate a number of sustainable elements, with an aim of achieving a BREEAM 'very good' rating.

Pochin is working with structural engineers ABA Consulting on the build.

Jonathan Pochin, managing director at Pochin Construction, said: "As Helena Central is located on the former St Helens Glass production facility, it forms a vital part of the wider regeneration plan for the town. The glass design provides links to the site's historic roots and by designing and constructing the building to achieve a BREEAM very good rating, we are creating a sustainable building for the future. Working with developer Nextdom, we are scheduled to hand the building over to Helena for its fit out works to commence in August 2011."

Helena Partnerships current office is located on the third floor of the Court Building on Prescot Road in St Helens.

Clive Bleasdale, head of commercial property at law firm Weightmans LLP, advised Helena Partnerships on the deal with Pochin Construction.