Property round-up: Liverpool Mutual takes 16,000 sq ft at Stonebridge Park; £3m bridge works completed; and more
HOUSING association Liverpool Mutual Homes has taken a 16,000 sq ft unit at developer St Modwen’s Stonebridge Park in Liverpool.
The mutual organisation has taken the large industrial unit at the 30-acre park on the A580 East Lancs Road, next to the junction with the M57 motorway.
The letting means that two 13,000 sq ft industrial/ warehouse units remain at the 57,500 sq ft scheme, which was developed by St Modwen in partnership with Liverpool Vision, Government Office North West and the North West Regional Development Agency.
A 16,000 sq ft unit has already been sold to Croxteth-based training provider Neighbourhood Services Company (NSC) for just over £1m.
Michael Hosie, development manager at St. Modwen, said: “Stonebridge’s excellent location on a main route into Liverpool and it superb landscaping and water features mean it offers a high quality business environment which is also well served by local amenities.
“We are offering occupiers extremely attractive deals at the moment and are delighted to welcome LMH to the site.”
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NETWORK Rail has completed the first stage of work to electrify the railway between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool Lime Street following a £3m investment to rebuild three bridges between Eccles and Patricroft stations.
Albert Street bridge has reopened after a 20-week closure, with Old Wellington Road and Chadwick’s footbridge expected to reopen within the next few days.
Network Rail said the completion paves the way for the installation of overhead power cables to electrify the line next year, which will improve reliability and boost capacity on the route.
Jo Kaye, Network Rail’s route director, said: “Electrification presents a huge opportunity and is vital for Britain’s long-term, low-carbon economic growth. The opening of Albert Street bridge marks the first major step in a programme of work that will improve rail links across the north west, better connecting our towns and cities.”
Work to electrify the railway between Manchester and Liverpool via Newton-le-Willows, is expected to be completed by 2014, with a wider programme of work across the North West to be delivered by 2016.
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WARRINGTON-based healthcare property specialist Assura Group has begun work on a new £2.6m GP surgery in the Wirral town of Wallasey.
The project, which is being delivered by LSP Developments, will see a new two-storey, 13,000 sq ft building delivered for the four-partner St Hilary Brow Practice Group on Wallasey Road.
The building will also include a minor surgery suite.
Tom Cooke, development manager at Assura Group, said: “Having acquired the 
site back in 2006, we have since been working very hard with our development team, the GPs and Wirral NHS Trust to get to this stage.
“The consultation period with the GPs was hugely important in terms of getting the design and layout of the surgery fit for purpose and we are delighted that the construction process has now begun.”
Dr James Kingsland, lead GP at St Hilary Brow Group Practice, concluded: “The practice team are hugely excited that the project has begun and that we will soon see the foundation stones of our new surgery being laid.”
LSP Developments has appointed Pochin Construction as contractor for the project, which is expected to complete in the summer of 2012.
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MADE to Order, the firm which operates the master franchise for Subway in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, has appointed Colliers to negotiate lease events on its properties in Greater Manchester.
The commercial lease consultancy team will carry out rent reviews, lease renewals and valuations on existing Subway outlets.
David Halliday, associate director at Colliers International, said: “We are delighted to work with Subway to help minimise rental outgoings in today’s challenging economic climate.
“Our strategy is to address rent reviews and lease renewals in a pro-active manner and also identify ways in which we can add value to the overall portfolio.”
Made to Order is looking to acquire ten new units across its portfolio area in the coming year, which will bring its total number of stores and concessions to 130.
The company is owned by Deidre Anderson and has grown from owning a handful of sites in 2002 to more than 120 currently.
Estates and acquisitions director Neil Holland is handling the firm’s continued rollout.
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ISRA Developments has agreed deals for two leases at its speculatively-built Broughton Court cash and carry trade counters development in Cheetham Hill, north Manchester.
Clothing wholesaler Justin has taken a 3,000 sq ft unit on a five-year lease, while Edge Clothing has taken 6,000 sq ft. 
The new deals mean that 40% of the 18 units available on site are now either let or
sold.
Alex Smylie of DTZ, letting agent for Isra Developments, said: “Broughton Court is an excellent development offering occupiers a quality product at the centre of the region’s thriving wholesale cash and carry market.
“There has been strong interest from the beginning and we expect to have further occupiers imminently.”
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SAVILLS has let the 13,640 sq ft Unit G at Roundthorn Industrial Estate at Wythenshawe in south Manchester to Activair (UK) Ltd.
Acting on behalf of landlord Greater Manchester Pension Fund, a six-year lease was agreed with Activair, which is paying an annual rental of £58,652.
Activair UK Limited was unrepresented. JLL is the joint agent at Roundthorn Industrial Estate.
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BURY-based property consultancy Nolan Redshaw has been instructed to market a 6,000 sq ft industrial unit at Dinting Vale Business Park in Glossop.
Dinting Vale is a prominent industrial estate near to Glossop town centre. The unit is close to the A57 and also offers direct access to the M67 motorway.
Andrew Ashworth, assistant surveyor at Nolan Redshaw, said: “Dinting Vale is a well-known business park and as this is the only available unit on site, we expect there to be plenty of interest.”
Nolan Redshaw is sole agent on the estate.
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VENTURE capital firm MSIF has taken a 2,500 sq ft unit at Bruntwood’s recently-redeveloped Exchange Court scheme in Liverpool’s commercial district.
Bruntwood said that the letting of a second-floor suite to MSIF means that Exchange Court, which is part of the Exchange Flags complex, is now 70% let following its £2.3m upgrade last year.
MSIF chief operating officers Lisa Greenhalgh (pictured, right, with Brutnwood’s 
Jane Yates) said: “Agreeing such a long lease underpins our commitment to the future.
“We have already pledged to invest £25m in local SMEs over the next five years through our Merseyside Loan & Equity Fund and in our capacity as a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI), we also manage the Merseyside Small Loans for Business Fund on behalf of the NWDA which will currently invest up to 2013.
“Bruntwood has done an excellent job of renovating the space. The new offices are perfect for us in terms of size, location and facilities and we are very much looking forward to moving there next month.”
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THE sponsors of a new property and construction club in Liverpool have called upon more firms to co-operate in a bid to keep a higher percentage of work generated in the city going to local firms.
The Liverpool Property Club held its third meeting at Sakura in Exchange Flags 
last week, with sponsor John Sutcliffe of Liverpool-based Sutcliffe Consulting
Engineers warning of a “need to think smarter” in order to keep work in the city.
“Liverpool has one of the most talented and keenest property scenes in Britain,” he said. By working together and fighting for business together we can achieve so much more.”
Alan Robson, managing director of fellow sponsor Innov8 Safety Solutions said the club could play a critical role in allowing indigenous firms to share intelligence and contacts among fellow Liverpool-based firms.
“Too often we have seen local work, deals and contracts plucked from under our nose by outside firms,” he said.
“The more self-aware the local property scene is, the more likely we are to learn about opportunities. And it then becomes self-generating. One contract leads to another and we ensure local firms keep a firm grip on local business.”
Liverpool Property Club is also sponsored by Nobles Construction and Todd & Ledson.
