Property Round-Up: Accor completes £3m Novotel refurb; Mulberry wins £7.2m Warrington deal; and more
FRENCH hotels group Accor has reopened its Novotel Manchester outlet on Portland St following a £3m revamp.
The firm has installed a new reception and lobby area, as well as transforming its and its Elements bar and restaurant. Meeting facilities, bedrooms and corridors have been revamped and a new fitness centre has been added.
The 164-bed hotel, which has only been open for around eight years, has been redesigned by London-based Blacksheep, which has included nods to Manchester’s history throughout the new design.
“Novotel Manchester offers guests a unique experience,” says general manager Iain Black.
“Our new look, combined with our supreme location, puts us on the map as a number one choice for business and leisure travellers alike.”
The revamped restaurant can now accommodate 125 people, while the meeting rooms have a capacity to hold 80 people.
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SEGRO has gained planning consent to embark on a £3m refurbishment of Longwood Park, which is part of the firm’s industrial and distribution portfolio on Trafford Park.
The company has now appointed contractor J Mills to redevelop the 342,688 sq ft site, whose tenants include ATS Euromaster, Screwfix and Greggs, as well as several of local businesses.
The improvements will include works to two terraces along Longwood Road and the installation of new roofs and windows on units. A couple of older units will also be demolished to create more yard space and off-road parking, while perimeter fencing and gates will be added to improve security.
Hazel Lambert, senior leasing surveyor at Segro, said: “This refurbishment programme will give a much needed facelift to Longwood Park, modernising the facilities, improving the quality of space for existing and new customers alike and driving the future success of the estate.
“As part of the development programme, we will also be creating a small new development to the front of the estate, facing Westinghouse Road. This new accommodation will provide retail and trade counter opportunities for customers to enhance the amenity offer at Trafford Park.”
David Bridges, business unit director for Segro, said that since the firm had acquired several Trafford Park assets following its takeover of the Brixton Real Estate Investment Trust two years ago, the firm had worked on “enhancing the underlying quality of our assets”.
“This is one more step on that journey,” he said.
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SOCIAL housing provider Helena Partnerships has struck a £7.2m deal with Mulbery Homes to build affordable housing on land north of Thelwall Lane at Latchford, near Warrington.
Mulbery Homes, which is a division of Newbury Homes, was the only bidder competing for the development agreement as it owns the plot of land on which the properties are due to be built.
Lymm-based Newbury Homes was set up in 2002 and is run by Martin Bury. It has built several projects for social housing providers as well as its own recent scheme at the Rosewood Court development at Heaton, near Bolton.
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THE Rock shopping centre in Bury has attracted three new tenants.
Fashion retailer MIC has taken more than 3,570 sq ft, hairdresser Toni & Guy has taken 1,560 sq ft and Manchester-based catalogue giant N Brown is launching its first Simply Be retail store at the scheme in a 9,580 sq ft unit.
The deals take occupancy rates at The Rock to 89%, up from 85% at its 
launch in July last year. The retail and leisure scheme was originally being built by Thornfield Developments, but when it fell into administration in January 2010 it was picked up by retail property specialist Hammerson.
Centre director David Laycock said The Rock had achieved footfall up 10m in its first year, which was higher than its target of 9m visitors.
“The Rock’s retail and leisure facilities have enhanced the attractiveness of the town for nearby residents,” he said.
“We look forward to attracting new visitors to The Rock over the coming years.”
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HENDERSON UK Retail Warehouse Fund has secured three new lettings at the Manchester Fort retail park in Cheetham Hill, north Manchester.
Marks & Spencer has taken an 18,000 sq ft unit where it will open a Simply Food Outlet, Clinton Cards has taken a 3,800 sq ft unit and Shoezone has taken 2,600 sq ft of space.
Clinton Cards and Shoezone will both open their units later this month while Marks & Spencer will open the Simply Food unit in the autumn.
Michael Neal, fund manager for the Henderson UK Retail Warehouse Fund, said: “Manchester Fort provides an ideal location for each of the new retailers where they will benefit from the strong footfall and calibre of existing tenants.
“The breadth of brands now available at the centre provides additional reasons for consumers to visit. In particular, we believe that the enhanced food offering, will further drive foot fall and sales.”
Joint letting agents for the scheme are Wilkinson Williams and Morgan Williams.
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DIGITAL marketing agency Add People has taken 9,070 sq ft of space at in Altrincham’s Swift Court development.
The firm has agreed a three-year lease for the whole of Unit 8 at Swift Court, which is on Scott Drive. Regional Property Solutions’ Charles Murray said the deal was the biggest office letting signed in Altrincham town centre this year.
“This letting is vindication that Altrincham continues to offer an excellent environment in which to work, endorsed by Add People which has chosen to remain in the town,” he said. “Despite the woes of the retail sector, on the offices side it remains an attractive place to operate a business.”
Regional Property Solutions and TFC acted for landlord Swift Developments.
