Press release - 18 March 2019 09:42

Suffolk-based Fred. Olsen companies confirm extension to Fred. Olsen House in Whitehouse estate in Ipswich, Suffolk

Plans to extend Fred. Olsen House in Ipswich, Suffolk, to create one central headquarters for staff at Fred. Olsen Ltd, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Fred. Olsen Travel have been granted planning permission, with work set to be underway by April.

The extension will more than double the size of the existing Fred. Olsen House, in White House Road, Ipswich, increasing the building size from 14,000 sq ft to 32,000 sq ft, and allowing employees of all Fred. Olsen companies based in the Whitehouse area of Ipswich to work from the same base. Currently, Fred. Olsen Ltd is based temporarily in Dencora Business Centre; Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is based at Fred. Olsen House and Fred. Olsen Travel is located in Olympus Close.

The extension will be a three-storey building, incorporating open-plan office space with breakout areas and meeting rooms, with planning permission granted by Ipswich Borough Council.

In addition, Fred. Olsen has also purchased land to the rear of the extension site for the creation of additional staff parking areas, which is set to increase parking provision for all three companies by around 50%.

In a joint statement, Nick Emery, Chief Executive of Fred. Olsen Ltd; Mike Rodwell, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines; and Steve Williams, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Travel, said:

“The Directors of Fred. Olsen Ltd, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Ltd and Fred. Olsen Travel Ltd are delighted to announce that, having received planning permission for the office extension, they have now entered into an agreement to buy the land and construct the office with Artisan Developments. This extension will more than double the space at Fred. Olsen House, from 14,500 sq ft today to 32,000 sq ft.

“This is a significant development costing approximately £10million and demonstrates the commitment from the owners, both to our businesses and the local area, and gives us the facilities to allow us to grow.”

Enabling works are set to start within the next two weeks, ahead of foundation preparation work getting underway in late April.

The building is scheduled to be completed in the Summer of 2020 and work on the refurbishment of the existing building will commence thereafter, with final completion due by the end of the year.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com

Topics

Regions

England

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line operates in the UK with four intimately sized ships for a more personal cruising experience.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Contacts

Ellis Orchard

Press contact Public Relations Manager Public Relations ellis.orchard@fredolsen.co.uk 07557672265

Georgina May

Press contact Public Relations Executive Public Relations georgina.may@fredolsen.co.uk

Lauren Gardner

Press contact Public Relations Manager Public Relations lauren.gardner@fredolsen.co.uk 07546807099

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

At Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines we are very proud of our smaller ships – Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral - and the imaginative and unusual itineraries they allow us to offer. Every cruise is hand-crafted from scratch by our team of in-house Journey Planners to make sure you are not only visiting the best destinations, but at the best time to experience them.

For us, it’s not just about where we go but how we take you there. We put as much time into planning scenic cruising as we do in choosing the destinations themselves. On board, our Signature Experiences showcase the history, culture, nature and flavours of the destinations you’ll visit – from Treats of the Region, where you can enjoy local delicacies, to our Sky at Sea star-gazing sessions where you can relax with a hot toddy out on deck while our astronomer talks you through the night sky.

Plus, with each ship carrying 1,300 guests or less, our ships are small enough for us to offer a warm, friendly and personal service where nothing is ever too much trouble, as we visit a host of exciting ports in every corner of the globe.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines