[Last updated April 2023] A guide to serviced offices and office space to rent in Leatherhead as well as general information that may be useful if you are thinking of renting office space in the town.
For further offices information or to search offices for rent in Leatherhead just click. Or contact us for any other query.
History & Geography
Leatherhead is nestled in the Mole Valley in the county of Surrey in southern England. The town sits on the River Mole near Chessington, Epsom and Oxshott. Leatherhead was first settled by the Anglo-Saxons probably due to its position on the old Roman road leading from London to Chichester. Also, its location on the ford of the River Mole made it strategically and commercially important. Gradually, Leatherhead grew in size and became a market town serving the local agricultural community. In the 11th century, the town built its parish church and, in 1248, Henry III granted the town a weekly market and annual fair. In 1392, a fire devastated much of the town, however, it was extensively rebuilt and extended. The town continued to grow and prosper over the centuries and during the Elizabethan era was home to Edmund Tylney, Master of the Revels and an important figure in Elizabeth I’s court. There is a story that Elizabeth I herself spent the night in the town once when the River Mole was flooded and impassable. During the 19th century, Leatherhead saw extensive modernisation and had two major railway lines linked to it. In the late 19th century, the elite St John’s School was built by a group of clergymen and continues to this day as one of Britain’s elite boarding schools. In the 20th century, Leatherhead was home to several industries, primarily among them Ronson’s Lighters and Goblin Vacuum Cleaners. During WWII, the town was the site of several important ammunition dumps. The late 1970s and 80s saw the town modernised even further and the decision was made to pedestrianise the high street. In 1986, Leatherhead became Junction 9 on the new M25 motorway system. There are non-aligned entry and exit points on the two sides of the motorway which has caused Leatherhead to become notorious as the scene of many traffic jams and road accidents.
Economy
During much of the 20th century, Leatherhead’s economy was reliant on light manufacturing businesses such as Ronson’s Lighters and Goblin Vacuums. However, as with many other towns in the UK, during the 1980s these businesses largely failed or simply moved their facilities overseas. Due to this for a time, the local economy was in the doldrums. However, of late, Leatherhead has reinvented itself as a centre of the service industry. Many research companies have made Leatherhead their headquarters of late, including Cobham Technical Services, Leatherhead Food Research and the Central Electricity Research Laboratory. The town has also recently become something of a hub for the motorsports industry, particularly car racing. Lister Cars Le Mans Race Cars and P1 International, the company of former champion Damon Hill are both based in the area. Several other major companies have also been set up in Leatherhead, including ExxonMobil, KBR, Logica, Unilever, Robert Dyas, and ERA Technology Ltd. Several major industrial parks have recently sprung up around the town which continues to attract major businesses. The introduction of these parks has helped to revive the town centre which has seen the introduction of new restaurants and cafes, lending it a more sociable atmosphere than prevailed in previous years. Leatherhead’s relative proximity to London and its excellent transport links also work to its advantage.
Culture & Tourism
Leatherhead is not a thriving tourist town. However, its setting in the beautiful Surrey countryside and the recent refurbishment of its town centre has led to more visitors to the town. One event that never fails to attract visitors is the Leatherhead Drama Festival, the largest of its type in the UK. Schools and drama groups from around Surrey and the rest of the country compete for the Sir Michael Caine Drama Awards, New Writing Awards and Richard Houghton Awards. Sir Michael Caine is the patron of the festival and is usually there, film schedule permitting, to present the awards. Leatherhead has also been the recording location for many famous British bands including, The Lotus Eaters, Godley & Creme, The Police, Rick Astley and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The town also has a number of popular pubs, the oldest being the Duke’s Head, which was established in the Elizabethan era.
Transportation
Leatherhead is served by the Leatherhead Railway Station which serves trains to Waterloo, London Victoria, and Wimbledon, where it connects with the London Underground. Going south, the station serves Dorking, Horsham, Guildford, Littlehampton and Chichester. Mole Valley Premier Taxis is the largest taxi service in the area and there is a taxi rank located outside the station. Reptons Coaches is the largest bus company in the area and provides service to the surrounding region and towns. Leatherhead is located equidistant from London’s two main airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, approximately 40 minutes drive from each.
Office space for rent in Leatherhead
When this report was first published, in 2012, the vast majority of office space in the Leatherhead area was located outside of town in the many industrial and office parks that had been constructed in the previous decade.
In the aftermath of the financial crisis, demand had started growing again gradually, though there were few projects in the development pipeline.
Whether this would lead to a rise in rents was unclear, however, it was deemed fairly improbable as supply remained plentiful in the area surrounding Leatherhead and Surrey in general.
The town centre itself had little office space, though there are some sub-Grade A locations.
Just over a decade on, in April 2023, The Square provides Grade A office space to let in Leatherhead town centre just 5 minutes from Leatherhead railway station.
The property has achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ and offers car parking, bicycle parking, air-conditioned offices and shower facilities.
The Square has space that will suit requirements of between 4,552 square feet and 10,646 square feet and the quoting rent is £31.50 per square foot.
There is a still fairly diverse range of leased office options that will suit requirements of between 1,000 square feet and 25,000 square feet in out-of-town locations in Leatherhead.
For example, Arc Leatherhead at The Office Park on Springfield Drive in the KT22 postcode district officers Grade A office space to let with car parking and EV chargers, air-conditioned space and car parking and this is quoted at between £27.50 per sqft and £31.50 per sqft.
Cheaper office space outside of Leatherhead town centre includes that available at the property, No.2 Brook Way. Brook Way is a mixed commercial area of offices, industrial and supermarkets on the outskirts of the town and the property offers between 1,936 sqft and 11,488 sqft with a quoting rent of £22.50 per square foot.
There is a range of serviced office providers in Leatherhead that provide flexible office space and workspace solutions both in the town centre and out of town.
These offer alternatives to renting office space on traditional leases with short-term licence contracts and all-inclusive pricing.
We carry out a free office space search and our advisory and acquisition services are also free, always. Our Leatherhead office space brokers and agents are globally regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) ensuring the highest standards of commercial property advice and service at all times. We look forward to helping you find the best office space for rent for your business.
The Office Providers are Regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)