News and Blogs

30 September 2019
New additions to commercial and residential teams as lettings at key regional developments push on

Garness Jones has added three new faces to its organisation on the back of securing ‘significant and high-profile’ new contracts for both its commercial and residential teams.

It comes on the back of the business recently being announced as the agent leading on letting commercial space in the new Hammonds of Hull development, which is set to transform the former House of Fraser building in Ferensway.

Plans have already been revealed by landlord Redefined Paragon, and approved by Hull City Council, to convert the ground floor into an artisan food hall with space for 20 boutique food stalls.

Upper floors are expected to be developed into flats, flexible working space or possibly hotel rooms whilst the development is also seeking a range of independent businesses for other floors.


It comes as Garness Jones Residential, the residential lettings and management side of the business, has been also selected to let and manage 30 new one and two bed apartments in the £6m King William House redevelopment in Hull’s Old Town.


With the business in demand, the firm has recruited experienced commercial facilities expert Bob Fratson as Commercial Facilities Manager, Amy Thompson as a new Lettings Negotiator for its residential team, and Eve Lodge as Marketing Assistant, covering all work areas for the business.

Managing Director Dave Garness says the new additions arrive at a busy but exciting time, as Garness Jones is also focussed on attracting new commercial occupiers for the 200 acres Melton West business park development, retailers, leisure operators and restaurants for King William House and stores for Monks Way Retail Park in Kingswood.

He said: “We’re delighted to be playing such an influential role in the continuing development of the region, and in particular within Hull where we have taken on roles at significant and high-profile developments, across both our our commercial and residential teams.


“We’re obviously delighted to be working on the hugely important redevelopment of the House of Fraser building, the Hammonds of Hull project. When news first broke of House of Fraser’s closure we called for a creative approach and for it to be seen as an opportunity to do something different. That is now happening and it is really exciting.

“As a business we have enjoyed continual growth in recent years and in total we now manage around 2,500 residential properties, with commercial properties nearing 3,000 across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. For that reason we have needed to continually grow the team and bring in further expertise.

“Bob, Amy and Eve bring substantial and experience in key areas for the business and I am confident they will be excellent additions to our team.”

Whilst Garness Jones continues to be in demand for its expertise in letting commercial and residential space, it is also increasingly being called upon for the day-to-day management of major business sites across the region.

Clients including the 30-acre Kingston International Business Park in Hedon Road, Newlands Science Park at the University of Hull, and the 124-acre Humber Gate development between Grimsby and Immingham.

The residential department has also established a significant area of business in the management of leasehold residential property complexes spanning across Hull, the East Riding, North Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

It now manages more than 100 blocks and developments of varying sizes, and even private roads.
Buildings managed include Queens Court Apartments in Hull, City Exchange Apartments in Hull, Raywell House in Raywell and St Mary’s Manor in Beverley.

The latest new additions to the team follow surveyor Chris Hyam, who was during the summer as an agency surveyor for industrial premises.