Trio of lettings help refurbish Orchard Brae House bloom

Edinburgh’s Orchard Brae House has secured three lettings in close succession, following the completion of an extensive refurbishment programme at the well-known office building.

Penumbra Mental Health and Mortgage Solutions have taken 4,801 and 3,391 sq. ft., respectively, on Orchard Brae House’s third floor. Meanwhile software company EcoOnline UK has extended its lease for 2,153 sq. ft. on the second floor of the office building.

Knight Frank and Cuthbert White, the property’s joint agents, acted for VCM Global Asset Management, through the property’s local asset manager Eden PAM, while Ryden represented Penumbra Mental Health and Ken Pritchard advised EcoOnline UK.

Located on Queensferry Road, Orchard Brae House underwent a significant refurbishment project that completed in April 2024. The building’s interiors were upgraded and a variety of on-site amenities were added to support occupier wellbeing and active commuting, including a free-to-use gym, cycle hub, wellness suites, yoga studio, and Edinburgh’s first office dog park.

Orchard Brae House provides Grade A and B office spaces of between 2,000 and 45,000 sq. ft. spread over six floors, catering to occupiers ranging from start-ups to larger organisations. Innis & Gunn, MBM Law, and Changeworks are also among its current occupiers.

Toby Withall, office agency partner at Knight Frank Edinburgh, said: “Orchard Brae House has been designed to specifically cater to modern occupiers’ needs, with a particular focus on providing a variety of on-site amenities, supporting health and wellbeing, and building a community among the businesses within the building.

These three lettings are testament to the quality of the refurbishment work and the popularity of the concept behind Orchard Brae House. With quality space in increasingly short supply in Edinburgh city centre, we expect to see interest in the property’s remaining space.”

Paul Coulter of Eden PAM commented: “We have been delighted by the high quality of occupiers our agents have attracted to Orchard Brae House. Since acquisition, our client shared our vision of making the buildings a wholly inclusive place to work. From the highest provision of tenant amenity to designing spaces for all, we have transformed the office for today’s workforce.

Our biggest success has been creating smaller flexible spaces. In addition to the three recent deals, we completed three deals earlier in the year all sub-5,000 sq. ft. It is no surprise that our new third floor hub has let up so quickly and our first fully fitted and furnished suite is now let.”

He added: “We have the luxury of homing small businesses from 2,000 sq. ft. to large organisations looking for 20,000 sq. ft. upwards, including fitted space. The Orchard Brae House community is growing weekly and our latest addition is our new tenant library and book store opening soon. Orchard Brae House really is Edinburgh’s best-kept office secret.”