A carefully planned property swap has been finalised by Mark Robinson of Robinson Layer, enabling a major charity and a leading building services group to effectively ‘exchange’ properties.

 The charity, CBM, is moving from its Oakington based 9,000 sq ft Vision House to occupy Munro House, new build offices of 7,000 sq ft in Mercer’s Row near the centre of Cambridge, allowing Munro Building Services, whose group parent has just developed these offices, to move out of Cambridge to occupy CBM’s current premises.

 Mark Robinson said: “It’s been a slow burning fuse which was lit when CBM instructed agents some years ago to market Vision House with a view to relocating into Cambridge.  I had originally acquired Vision House for the charity about 15 years ago, so know the property well.

 “The Munro Group is a longstanding client of Robinson Layer and we were instructed in mid 2018 to search for out-of-town premises at the same time as the Mercer’s Row new build offices were about to be constructed.  I made CBM aware of these city offices and thus began what became a slow waltz to bring about the eventual ‘swap’. 

 “The end result is that CBM and Munro Building Services have taken leases of around 10 years on each other’s buildings.  CBM plans to sublet about 25 per cent of their new space to another charity that works closely with them and the asking rent for the new building was £18 per sq ft.”

 Munro Building Services is a leading provider of mechanical and electrical installation services.  Steve Barry, the Managing Director, explained that the firm wanted to relocate due to expansion to accommodate 55 plus people and had been looking for new premises for some time with specific requirements. He said that Mark Robinson of Robinson Layer worked hard to find the new premises and to conclude negotiations.

 CBM were advised by BSM.

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT MARK ROBINSON AT ROBINSON LAYER ON 01223 346195 OR EMAIL:   mbr@robinsonlayer.co.uk