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The UK’s leading roadside assistance provider, The AA, has agreed a deal with support from international law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) to move into new premises housed in the historic Grade II listed redevelopment of Basingstoke's Mountbatten House.
Moving from its former home of Fanum House where the organisation had been based for 50 years, The AA will now operate out of nearby development The Plant, a redesign of Mountbatten House which delivers a modern, best-in-class office fit for the needs of the association.
Aligning with it's organisational goals to modernise and achieve environmental ambitions, the AA will take over 41,000 sq. ft. of the 150,000 sq. ft. development on a 15 year lease.
The AA is due to move into the facility, which is targeting an EPC A and BREEAM Outstanding ratings through its design and extensive roof gardens providing a more sustainable site, later in the year.
Alistair Walton, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, said:
"It has been excellent supporting our client The AA to help realise their long-term ambitions through the move into a new space where sustainability and modernity are at the heart of the development.
This move will set the organisation up for the future and it was a pleasure to support The AA with our expertise across a range of practice areas to ensure the multi-faceted transaction proceeded within the required timelines required by all interested parties to the transaction."
The transaction was led by a WBD team consisting of Core Real Estate Partner Alistair Walton with support from Legal Director Anna Larbi, Construction Managing Associate Amy Hodge, and Tax Partner Jeremy Smith. In addition, Property Disputes Partner James Rees and Core Real Estate Solicitor Vish Mhatre provided additional support on the project.
Requiring a tight turnaround of just over a month from initial instruction to completion, the complex transaction meant the team had to work with not only the AA, but the developer of The Plant and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on the deal to ensure all parties were able to reach a suitable agreement.
Jakob Pfaudler, Chief Executive Officer of the AA, said:
"This move will be somewhat bittersweet for us, marking the end of 50 years at our historic home of Fanum House, dating back to the late Queen opening the building in 1973 but at the same time it represents a key moment in transforming the AA into a fresh flexible modern company.”
The AA has thanked the team at Womble Bond Dickinson for its support on this transaction, as the experience in turning around major headquarter movements shone through in this deal and helped ensure it could quickly get back to doing what it does best – supporting the nation's drivers.
