Retail property (high street) for sale

LOCATION:

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk with a resident population of about 140,000. The A12 and A14 dual carriageways provide excellent road communications with the M25, London and the Midlands. Ipswich railway station provides a regular service to London (Liverpool Street) with a journey time of approximately one hour and ten minutes.

The property is situated in the centre of the town in a prominent position on the corner of Princes Street and Kings Street, opposite The Corn Exchange and within a short walk of The Cornhill and central retail district.

DESCRIPTION:

Mutual House comprises two buildings. No. 1 Princes Street is a Grade II Listed four storey building which adjoins No. 2 Princes Street, a three storey building. The ground floor of the two buildings are interconnected and, together with a section of first floor accommodation, were fully refurbished during 2016/2017 to provide the current building society branch premises. The specification includes air conditioning, recessed lighting and carpets/laminate floor coverings.

The upper floors of the two buildings each have their own separate entrances and both buildings also have independent basements. The upper floors were last used as offices although have been vacant for several years and are in need of comprehensive refurbishment or conversion.

ACCOMMODATION:

The property provides the following approximate net internal floor areas:

Ground Floor: 2,155 sq ft [200.17 sq m]
First Floor (occupied): 421 sq ft [ 39.11 sq m]
First Floor (unoccupied): 1,260 sq ft [117.03 sq m]
Second Floor: 1,299 sq ft [120.64 sq m]
Third Floor: 541 sq ft [ 50.24 sq m]
Basements: 634 sq ft [ 58.88 sq m]
Total: 6,310 sq ft [586.07 sq m]

PLANNING:

No. 1 Princes Street is Grade II Listed (ref. 1037691). The planning history would suggest the ground floor of the two buildings has been used as bank premises for some considerable time, with self- contained upper parts used as offices.

A preliminary scheme was prepared in 2016 for the conversion of the upper floors to provide five self-contained flats, one per floor in each of the two buildings and providing the following accommodation:

Unit 1: First Floor 2 bedroom 786 sq ft [ 73 sq m]
Unit 2: First Floor 1 bedroom 560 sq ft [ 52 sq m]
Unit 3: Second Floor 2 bedroom 807 sq ft [ 75 sq m]
Unit 4: Second Floor 2 bedroom 721 sq ft [ 67 sq m]
Unit 5: Third Floor 1 bedroom 753 sq ft [ 70 sq m]
Total 3,627 sq ft [337 sq m]

A copy of the plans for the above scheme are available upon request and all interested parties should make their own enquiries with the local planning authority regarding their proposals for the property.

SERVICES:

We understand that the property is connected to mains electricity, water and drainage. The previous gas supply has been disconnected.

We have not tested any of the services and all interested parties should rely upon their own enquiries with the relevant utility companies in connection with the availability and capacity of all of those serving the property including IT and telecommunication links.

BUSINESS RATES:

The premises are assessed as follows:

Ground floor & part first floor/basement (occupied)
Rateable Value £34,750

Upper Floors 1 Princes Street
Rateable Value £6,500

Upper Floors 2 Princes Street
Rateable Value £5,900

Basement 2 Princes Street
Rateable Value £385

LOCAL AUTHORITY:

Ipswich Borough Council
Grafton House
15-17 Russell Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 2DE

Telephone[use Contact Agent Button].

ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE [EPC]:

The building society branch premises have an EPC rating of D (99), valid until 7th August 2026.

TERMS:

Offers are invited in the region of £750,000 for the freehold interest with vacant possession upon completion.

NB: The current occupier, Suffolk Building Society, may consider a short term lease back pending relocation of the branch.

The property is VAT exempt.

LEGAL COSTS:

Each party to bear their own legal costs.