Co-op hires BAM for new HQ

THE Co-operative Group has appointed BAM Construction to help it develop plans for its new £100m head office in Manchester.

Manchester City Council has now approved the group’s planning application for a 15-storey building with 325,000 sq ft of office space opposite the Co-operative Insurance Tower.

BAM, part of the Netherlands-based Royal BAM Group, has been appointed to work with the Co-op’s design team to develop and help cost the final build. Site preparation will begin early in January with construction starting in May.

Lynda Shillaw, managing director of Co-operative Estates, said: “Our new head office will be one of the most exciting and innovative buildings in the UK and there has been keen interest from the construction industry to work on the project.”

According to the group the proposed building’s design, construction and operation will make it one of the most sustainable in Europe.
 
Director of BAM in the North West, Steve Byrne, said: “We’re proud and delighted to be working with The Co-operative Group on such an exciting and pioneering project. We believe our experience will bring a great deal to further developing the design of the new building and establishing the overall cost of the work.”