Office agents report buoyant take-up figures for Manchester

MANCHESTER Office Agents Forum (MOAF) has said that take-up of office space in the city centre increased by 36% in the first three months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. Take-up in south Manchester increased by 56%.

The survey found that take-up in the city centre reached 126,521 sq ft in the first quarter of 2011, with lettings to Amey, Hempsons and Hayes at Bruntwood’s City Tower (pictured) responsible for a combined 40,000 sq ft of this. QBE’s acquisition of 6,820 sq ft at Chancery Place and Help Your Claim’s 5,000 sq ft letting at 86 Deansgate were other significant lettings.

In south Manchester, lettings increased to 135,832 sq ft. Aecom acquired 16,137 sq ft at Parkfield House, Altrincham, while Jacobs and Wellspun both took space at Park Square Cheadle, totaling 25,000 sq ft.

Speaking on behalf of MOAF, CBRE associate Alex Russell said: “The take-up figures for Quarter 1 2012 reveal an extremely positive start to the year – viewings and enquiries are up on the same period in 2011 and we are confident that demand will remain strong throughout the rest of the year, most likely exceeding total take-up figures for 2011.”  

In Salford Quays and Old Trafford lettings climbed to 51,866 sq ft – a 92% increase on last year.