Argent scales back Manchester operations

PROPERTY giant Argent has announced that it is to scale down its operations in Manchester following a major restructuring of the business.

The firm announced the departure of directors Gary Taylor and Stephen Tillman yesterday, who have left to set up their own development business. They have taken a number of projects with them, including schemes in in Birmingham and Merthyr Tydfil, while Argent will focus on its 8m sq ft scheme at King’s Cross in London and the One St Peter’s Square project in Manchester.

However, joint chief executive David Partridge said that as part of the reorganisation, “We are restructuring our delivery resources around a London-based team, as a consequence of which we have regretfully had to make some redundancies in the Manchester office.”

Partridge said: “We will continue to pursue our existing interests in Manchester at Piccadilly Place, The Hive and One St Peter’s Square, where we are creating the premier office building in the city.

“Our project managers, James Nicholson and Oliver Butler, will be staying on for as long as it takes to secure existing tenant interest in One St Peter’s Square and The Hive respectively, and will be leaving thereafter. 

“Clive Bartlam will continue to provide management services in relation to One Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly Place, and Angela Fielding and Sinead Jones will be staying on to represent Argent in all marketing and on-going occupier and partnership relationships.

“I will be stepping up my personal commitment to Manchester as Argent will be increasing our activity in looking for new opportunities which we can seed now, in order to develop them into the next cycle.

“We see the North West as the strongest area outside of London and are confident that it will be one of the first to benefit from the recovery when it comes.”