First workspace tenant signs up for Altrincham’s Foundation scheme
Global sports marketing agency, SPORTFIVE, is the first workspace customer to sign up for Foundation, the former Rackhams building in Altrincham.
Bruntwood and Trafford Council have confirmed a 10-year lease with the agency for the entire second floor, of around 13,600 sq ft, as the transformation of the site nears completion.
The deal doubles SPORTFIVE’s existing office space, having previously been based in Wilmslow for more than 20 years ahead of the move to Foundation, the work, retail and leisure facility which is set to complete this autumn.
Boutique bowling brand, Lane7, which has 11 sites across the UK, has already been confirmed as the first leisure operator to take space in Foundation, signing up for the 12,640 sq ft lower ground floor, creating an eight-lane bowling destination.
It will provide an anchor for Foundation and for the Stamford Quarter as a whole, creating a fresh new leisure offering and delivering a boost for the area as it’s set to become an all day and night destination in Altrincham town centre.
Foundation will offer flexible workspace options in varying sizes, appealing to both scale-ups and well established businesses. Customers will also have the option to occupy spaces that have benefited from a high quality fit-out and furniture, reducing relocation costs and allowing for an immediate move in.
This has been designed to create a dynamic and varied community that will allow Bruntwood’s customers to network and learn from each other in a collaborative environment.
Foundation’s design includes a 375 sq m living biophilic wall on the building’s external façade, made up of 36,000 carefully selected plants grown by I Want Plants in South Manchester, which will reduce the building’s carbon emissions and create a habitat for wildlife.
Also, sustainability measures will be taken, such as adding new thermal insulation, improving air tightness, removing gas-fired heating and replacing with high efficiency heat pumps and the introduction of roof mounted solar PV panels which will reduce operational carbon – the amount of carbon needed to operate the building post-completion – and will result in an EPC rating of B.
The development represents half of Bruntwood’s Altrincham workspace cluster alongside neighbouring Station House, which complements the offering at Foundation with its small serviced and leased suites.
The project includes a complete reimagination of the old department store, including the transformation of 50,000 sq ft of commercial workspace and 25,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space.
A new two-storey extension will also create an indoor-outdoor work and lifestyle experience, incorporating new terraces on the first floor which will feature breakout areas. A fitness studio, as well as cycle storage and showers and vanity areas, have also been incorporated into the plans to encourage a cycling commute and promote wellbeing among customers.
Sharon Johnson, head of commercial Bruntwood, said: “As we near completion of Foundation, it’s incredibly exciting to be building our community of forward-thinking and innovative businesses that will make it one of the most exciting workspaces in Greater Manchester.
“SPORTFIVE is a perfect example of a business that has its entrepreneurial and ambitious roots in Manchester, which has seen it expand globally, meaning it has much to offer the wider community of customers that will be based at Foundation.”
Tim Birt, UK CFO and executive vice president of operations at SPORTFIVE, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be relocating our office to Foundation in Altrincham and have been impressed with the vision for the scheme and the wider plans for the Stamford Quarter.”
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic development which will undoubtedly add to the excitement and vibrancy of central Altrincham.”
