Spanish coworking specialist lands in Preston to launch UK expansion
Spanish coworking company, OneCoWork, has chosen Preston as its first site in the UK.
Real estate investor and developer, Branco Capital, has appointed OneCoWork to operate its planned premium coworking centre at Winckley Square in Preston.
OneCoWork operates three centres in Barcelona with high profile clients including Fortune 500 companies.
Once fully refurbished and due to open in early April 2024, the managed and flexible office hub at Winckley Square will provide more than 500 desks for individuals, teams and businesses.
Having acquired the 32,000 sq ft office building in July 2022, following Capita being a tenant for 25 years, Manchester-based Branco Capital plans a first phase of more than 300 desks alongside 4,000 sq ft of communal space, meeting rooms, event and conference spaces, a gym and kitchens.
After appointing Manchester-based Workspace Design and Build as contractors, Branco Capital committed to using local suppliers for the refurbishment and fitting out of the site, one of the most prestigious business addresses in Preston.
Joshua Senior, director at Branco Capital, said: “OneCoWork share our ethos of creating communities and making a positive economic impact where they’re based, making them the ideal operator of Winckley Square.
“A multimillion-pound regeneration programme and outstanding location with excellent transport links, means Preston is powering ahead and proving to be an increasingly attractive place for ambitious people and fast-growing businesses.”
He added: “A lack of new office space in Preston means Winckley Square will greatly enhance and expand the amount of such space in central Preston, breathing new life into the building and attracting more people to the city centre.”
Ben Nachoom, CEO of OneCoWork, said: “Preston is ideal for our first flexible workspace location in the UK. Its central position in the north of England, coupled with robust transport links, make it an accessible and strategic hub. The city is home to major businesses such as BAE Systems, benefits from close proximity to innovation centres like the University of Central Lancashire and contains a huge number of SMEs.
“Compared to other cities that have a more developed coworking market, Preston provides us with an opportunity to make a significant impact on the local entrepreneurial and business community.”
He added: “Flexible workspaces play a pivotal role in revitalising urban centres. They are more than just shared offices – they are incubators for collaboration, innovation, and community building. In secondary cities across the north of England, coworking spaces like ours serve as catalysts for economic development, offering a unique blend of flexibility, networking opportunities, and access to a diverse talent pool.”
Winckley Square represents the latest property development for Branco Capital in Preston, alongside the recent launch of 14 luxury apartments with a communal library and yoga studio at Park Place, Chapel Street, and planning permission being granted by the city council for 35 new-build apartments with gym, coworking space and terrace at a seven-storey building on Mount Street.
Branco has other residential and commercial projects across the North West and developed the 35,000 sq ft lifestyle hotel, Leven, and forthcoming Maya restaurant on the corner of Chorlton Street and Canal Street in Manchester.
