New North Somerset office for National Trust

A new North Somerset office has been opened by the National Trust at Abbotts Leigh.

It is based at the historic Leigh Court on the south side of Bristol and was chosen for providing modern rented office space within easy reach of the city as well as good road links to National Trust properties across the region inlcuding Somerset and Gloucestershire.

National Trust manager Russell Ashfield said: "Leigh Court gives us a modern and spacious office for the whole team and manages to combine a modern design in an historic building.

"Our team provides a range of essential support services to our properties including surveyors, visitor experience and marketing experts. 

"Many already lived close to Bristol and being close to the city but able to easily reach all of our places was seen as essential."

The team has moved from Eastleigh Court in Warminster which will remain the home for the sout west Wiltshire hub in the short term while a permanent office is created nearby. 

The ultimate plan is to sell Eastleigh Court where planning consent allows a change of use to return it to residential use.

Leigh Court was built by Sir Philip John Miles, a Bristol ship owner, sugar baron and banker, who commissioned the architect, Thomas Hopper, to build a Palladian mansion.

Leigh Court was sympathetically converted to office accommodation and is currently owned by Business West who provides conference and banqueting facilities, together with serviced office accommodation.