MCR’S trio of major lettings at Universal Square

Manchester-based MCR Property Group has announced a series of lettings at Universal Square on the Piccadilly fringe of Manchester city centre.

AWH Legal, Kaplan Financial and Pearson Education have taken space at the 260,000sq ft office campus, where work is underway to revamp the building’s façades.

The new tenants join existing occupiers, including Softcat, One Education, OVG, Mason Williams Digital and Regency Residential.

Education provider, Kaplan, has taken 12,600 sq ft on a 10-year lease to create a new office hub to support its  training centres across the UK.

AWH Legal, the Manchester-based multi-disciplinary law firm for private and commercial clients, has relocated from The Point, Cheetham Hill to take the fifth floor measuring 16,450 sq ft on a ten-year lease.

Pearson Education, which provides higher education and professional development and learning, is the third recent letting secured at Universal Square, has signed up to 4,200 sq ft on a nine-year lease.

Fergus Jagger, partner at Gerald Eve who represented Kaplan, said: “Universal Square afforded the opportunity to take good value office accommodation on a single floor in a complex which delivers appealing staff amenities such as the gym and canteen.”

Universal Square has up to 60,000sq ft in floors of up to 16,450sq ft available. The scheme includes an on-site restaurant and gym, and a new landscaped central square. The site also has secure parking for 800 cars. MCR has recently added a complimentary shuttle bus service between the scheme and Piccadilly Station.

John Nash, director at Canning O’Neill, joint agents for the scheme with Edwards & Co and Savills, said: “The recent burst of success at Universal Square is a direct reflection of high demand we’re seeing in the city’s occupational market.

“There is a dearth or large floor plate space available at the lower end of the rental scale and, by providing additional services such as a shuttle bus to and from Piccadilly, Universal Square has been able to successfully capitalise on this need.”

Charles Denby at MCR, said: “Universal Square is a business destination in its own right with over 50 businesses now operating from here. The recladding of the 1960’s façade is will be completed in October this year, and will be a fantastic boost to the overall profile of the scheme.”

Quoting rental is £13.50 per sq ft plus cars.

Pearson Education and AWH Legal represented themselves. Kaplan Financial was represented by Gerald Eve.