Accountancy firm relocating to new flagship Stockport HQ to enable expansion
Hurst, the accounting and business advisory firm, is relocating its HQ to a new Stockport flagship development due to expansion.
It is moving from its Tiviot Dale home of 25 years in Stockport, to 3 Stockport Exchange, where it will occupy 11,000 sq ft when it opens next year, after agreeing a 10-year lease for the whole of the fifth floor.
The site is the latest phase of a £145m project by Muse Developments and Stockport Council.
The fit-out is due to begin in January 2024, with Hurst’s 120-strong team scheduled to move in next April. The new HQ will give the firm scope to expand to around 170 staff, which it aims to achieve over the next three years.
The new development is a 64,000 sq ft Grade A office building with a communal roof terrace. It is being built by Galliford Try and will have 38 cycle racks, showers, lockers and a drying room, high-speed passenger lifts, high-speed fibre infrastructure provided by BT Openreach and Virgin Media, and a BREEAM excellent rating.
There will also be a 399-space multi-storey car park with 26 charging points for electric vehicles, solar photovoltaics and a green ‘living’ wall.
It forms part of the wider Stockport Exchange development comprising 375,000 sq ft of office space and 28,000 sq ft of commercial retail and leisure amenities. The scheme is already home to brands such as Stagecoach, musicMagpie, Holiday Inn and BASF.
Dubbed Stockport’s version of Manchester’s Spinningfields business district, the development is in the heart of the town centre and on the doorstep of Stockport train station.
Hurst’s move to 3 Stockport Exchange comes on the back of a record few years and to support its growth with an ambitious plan to reach fee income of £20m.
Managing partner, Tim Potter, said: “Although we looked at various sites in Manchester city centre, Stockport has always worked very well for us from a client and team perspective.
“It’s a great place to be and is firmly on the map for business and leisure, reinforced by its status as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2023.”
Andrew Timms, of Edwards & Co, represented Hurst. Simon Maddox, of JMW Solicitors, provided legal advice. Atul Bansal, of Sheila Bird Studio, is the design and fit-out adviser for the new offices.
Tim said Hurst would be reviewing its Manchester city centre presence with a view to expanding this, too. Its current Manchester offices are on Deansgate.
Cllr Colin MacAlister, cabinet member for economy and regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “Hurst will not only reap the benefits of a high quality office development with fantastic accessibility, but also our ambitious plans for the town centre like the new transport interchange, improvements to Merseyway and our growing retail offer.
“Despite operating in challenging times, we are seeing strong demand from the business community who are seeing Stockport as a great place to establish their business and attract high calibre staff.”
Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE are joint agents for the Stockport Exchange scheme.
