Property round-up: St Ann’s House gets £1.3m refurb; golf academy owner sets new course; and more
STANDARD Life Investments has just completed a £1.3m refurb of the St Ann’s House office building overlooking St Ann’s Square in Manchester city centre.
Acting for one of its own funds, the firm undertook a complete overhaul of the building, spending £1.3m on an overhaul of the main entrance, reception area, lifts and all of the office suites.
It said there is now space available ranging from 5,289 sq ft to 38,227 sq ft available to let.
Fund manager David Stewart said: “Standard Life Investments, on behalf of its Pooled Pension Fund, has undertaken a high specification refurbishment of the whole building and the new reception area is particularly stunning.
“Given the standard of refurbishment twinned with the impressive location, we expect early interest from occupiers leading to lettings and an improvement in asset value.”
Joint letting agents on the scheme are Canning O’Neill and King Sturge.
King Sturge associate Greg Ball said: “We are confident the building will appeal to a wide range of occupiers following such a high quality refurbishment. St Ann’s House is in a core location near to the retail offering in St Ann’s Square.”
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PROPERTY agency Nolan Redshaw, has been appointed to find an operator for a golf academy at the Leisure Lakes site between Preston and Southport in West Lancashire.
The 20-acre site forms part of the larger Leisure Lakes complex.
The academy consists of a 20-acre golf course, 9-acre driving range and a 2,500 sq ft clubhouse. The site is being marketed on a leasehold basis.
Nolan Redshaw director Mike Redshaw said: “This is an unusual site to bring to the market however, we have already received some strong enquiries, and it is clear that local leisure operators can see the potential the site holds.
“Being situated in such a high profile strategic position, close to the Liverpool conurbation area and on an already-established leisure complex, the site will be a big attraction to potential operators.”
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THE Manchester office of Knight Frank has been appointed to market two industrial sites in the Irlam area.
The firm has been instructed to let five units totalling 70,3350 sq ft at Excalibur Way on North Bank Industrial Estate, on behalf of Fluorocarbon Company. It has also been instructed to market 1.44 acres of storage land, containing a 3,324 sq ft workshop.
David Nuttall, a surveyor at Knight Frank, said: “We have noted an increase in enquiry levels for Irlam over recent months and these new instructions will help compliment the units we are already marketing in the area.”
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STOCKPORT Borough Council has held an event for property developers and agents showcasing the opportunities available in the town.
The event saw the launch of the new Town Centre Development Prospectus, outlining key potential commercial schemes in the town such as the Grand Central d
evelopment. It was hosted by Council leader Dave Goddard, Midas chief executive Angie Robinson and Drivers Jonas Deloitte’s Manchester head, Simon Bedford.
It was held at the art deco Stockport Plaza cinema, which underwent a £3m refurb last year.
Cllr Goddard said: “Our priorities now are creating opportunities, creating jobs and constantly pushing forward to make things happen.
“Our recent bid to make Stockport Britain’s newest city and purchase of Grand Central are both clear indications that we mean business. Stockport is a fantastic place to do business and we back that up with a can-do, no nonsense approach to development.”
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MANCHESTER law firm Pannone has been appointed as advisors to Alderley Edge property group Emerson – one of the largest property companies in the region with a portfolio of over £1bn. Pannone will advise Emerson on debt recovery and property litigation matters.
Pannone’s head of property litigation, David Brown, said: “We are delighted to have secured The Emerson Group as a client. This reflects our standing in the North West as one of the leading firms in these specialist areas.”
