Developer reveals plans for newly acquired WH Ireland building

Manchester-based developer Beech Holdings has revealed its plans to convert 11 St James Square in Manchester city centre – the long-term home and former headquarters of stockbroker WH Ireland – into apartments.

As reported yesterday, Beech has paid £5.27m to WH Ireland for the freehold of the 22,374 sq ft property on John Dalton Street.

While WH Ireland staff will remain in the offices on a lease for at least the next five months, the retail units on the ground floor will be unaffected and continue to trade as normal.

Then, company will convert the upper four floors into up to 48 residential apartments.

Stephen Beech, founder and owner of Beech Holdings – which includes its businesses Beech Construction, Beech Properties and lettings branch Manchester Apartments – said: “Getting the deal over the line has required a lot of hard work from our acquisitions team led by Justin Rouse.

“We agreed terms just prior to Christmas and worked hard to conclude what was a fairly complex transaction in four weeks over Christmas and New Year.”

He added that the company’s Manchester Apartments lettings branch has 7,500 qualified leads.

“We are turning large numbers of young professionals and graduates away every day at the moment. This latest acquisition will go some way to increasing the supply of much-needed residential apartments across the city region.”

WHR and Kuits Solicitors acted for Beech Holdings in the acquisition, while JLL acted for WH Ireland.

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