Fitting out works to a six storey Department Store in the new Bull Ring Development in the centre of Birmingham. The store was designed from the outset as the main anchor store for the Bull Ring shopping centre.
The structural frame was constructed and paid for by the Developer, whilst the external façade and internal fitting out works were undertaken by Selfridges Retail Limited. The total overall gross internal floor area was 29,075 m2.
Externally, works comprised the construction of a curved concrete façade, which was the first of its kind undertaken in the UK. The façade was covered with over 15,000 spun aluminium disks and quickly became a focal point of Birmingham’s new landscape.
Internally, extensive fitting out works were undertaken to create a retail environment comprising four floors of shopping space, cafes, bars and restaurants. Each floor was designed by a different architect to create a unique retail theme, with ambient features installed throughout the store.
The ground floor included a large food hall area with various cooking stations and themed eating environments. Specialist feature lighting and signage was installed throughout so as to attract custom from the main shopping mall.
A major focal point of the store was provided in the form of a central atria feature, providing a viewpoint to all floors and the ground floor food hall. This was enhanced by the provision of interconnecting ‘floating’ escalators and the use of extensive white glass reinforced plastic to the atria, columns and balustrades.
Works also included the fitting out of the back of house areas, the installation of extensive roof top plant room facilities and the fitting out of numerous specialist retail concessions.
As part of the works, a curved pedestrian link bridge was also installed to provide covered access to an adjacent car park at third floor level.
We undertook a detailed Capital Allowances analysis of six years of construction works and identified £29m of expenditure eligible for tax relief.
The total claim equated to 69% of total expenditure incurred and reflected a total a tax saving of circa £9m for our client.
