Property round-up: New Preston housing fund; Bakerie, Downing; Mediacity and more

PRESTON City Council has set up a joint development fund with the Community Gateway Association (CGA) to help bring more affordable homes to the city.

The fund, worth up to £260,000, will be used to help secure government funding for more affordable homes. The council approved the establishment of the fund at a council meeting last week.

Council leader Cllr Peter Rankin, said: “There is a shortage of affordable homes in the city and by working together with Community Gateway Association, we can tackle this and enable more affordable housing to be built in Preston.

“This is a long term commitment and project to develop more affordable homes in the city.  It will take time to fully realise the benefits and for the new homes to be built, but this is a fantastic way to help secure more affordable housing in Preston at a time when public money and resources are under so much pressure.”

Dave Warlow, CGA’s director of operations, said: “At a time of reduced central government funding for new homes, a partnership like this is a positive development for people in need in the city.  

“The council and ourselves have a common determination to relieve the hardship caused by the lack of affordable housing and the fund gives a boost to our efforts.”

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RWB Leisure has been granted planning permission to open a new wine bar, Bakerie, within The Hive office scheme on Lever St in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Bakerie will take 3,000 sq ft of space on the ground floor of 45 Lever St (an adjacent building owned by The Hive’s JV partner Argent) and 2,000 sq ft on the ground floor at The Hive. The larger unit will be used to house the wine bar, while a tasting store will open at The Hive.

David Cook of RWB Leisure Limited said:  “The two units are perfect for Bakerie, a brand new offer for the Northern Quarter. 

“We’ll be stocking a wide range of quality wines, baking our own bread on site and everything you can buy in the wine bar, you’ll be able to buy in the tasting store.  We’re looking forward to opening the wine bar in the autumn and the tasting store in winter.”

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ANTIX Productions, the Cheshire-based company renowned for making the Most Haunted and Ghost Hunting With… shows, has taken new office space at Peel Media’s Greenhouse building on the MediaCityUK complex.

Antix is co-owned by husband-and-wife Karl Beattie and Yvette Fielding.
Beattie, who is the firm’s head of production, said; “The BBC’s move up north has been the foundation for one of the biggest changes in television and the centre of that change is MediaCityUK.

“Keeping Northern talent up north and enticing southern talent up to this rich area of television production and creativity is fast destroying the prejudice of all things outside the M25.

“The Greenhouse is rapidly becoming a hotbed of creative talent and a great choice for media professionals who are serious about programme making, as it is on the doorstep of the BBC and ITV.”

MediacityUK managing director Stephen Wild said: “Since opening in April, The Greenhouse has attracted a diverse mix of media-related businesses that’ve all opted to be part of the growing community. We hope that Antix continues to enjoy great success from its new home here on Salford Quays.”

Meanwhile, nursery operator Holyrood Day Nurseries has taken a 15-year lease on a 12,424 sq ft unit at MediacityUK.

The company, which is part of Scottish nursery group Bertram’s said the 100-space nursery will be custom-designed and contain an outdoor play area with open spaces and play equipment.

The firm has already begun accepting bookings and said places are filling up fast. Activities have been planned in line with the Early Years Foundation stage including modern languages, dance, drama and sports activities. The nursery will also offer complementary services for parents including mail order pick-ups, a dry cleaning drop off and collection service and an onsite children’s hairdresser.

The unit is the second letting that Bertram Nursery Group has taken at a Peel scheme having opened at Princes Dock in in Liverpool earlier this year.
Susan McGhee of Bertram Nursery Group said: “Holyrood Nurseries have a commitment to delivering excellence in everything we do and we are thrilled to be opening our newest setting in such a premier location. 

“We have worked hard to create a bespoke facility that will not only meet but exceed the needs of children and families living and working in and around The Quays and MediaCityUK.”

Bertram Nursery Group operates a total of 32 nurseries across Scotland and the north of England.

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PROPERTY developer Downing has secured a new letting at its Victoria House office scheme in Liverpool city centre.

BAM Construction has taken the entire fourth floor of the building, which is located on James Street, on a short-term, flexible lease.

The company will be based in the 3,073 sq ft suite while it is progressing works on the Mann Island development. Downing will also provide BAM with 15 secure, 24/7, on-site car parking spaces and the rent includes service charge and building insurance.

Downing said there had also been strong interest in the building’s ground floor retail/leisure unit and that it is in talks with a national operator about taking the space.

Robin Ellis, senior agency surveyor at Downing, said: “This part of the city centre has seen huge changes in recent months with new businesses, restaurants and hotels locating to the area, as well as the ongoing development of the Mann Island scheme.  These developments are another piece in the jigsaw of city connectivity and Victoria House is right at the heart of this.

Mason Owen and CBRE are agents on Victoria House. 

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THE Manchester Office of leading business agents, Christie + Co, is pleased to announce it has recently been instructed to market the freehold interest in Julian’s Restaurant in Hoylake on the Wirral peninsula.

The 38-cover restaurant, which also has a 4-bed owner’s accommodation, has been placed on the market for £345,000. It has been owned and operated since 2004 by award-winning chef Julian and Jackie Davies. It is being put on the market as the pair wish to retire following Jackie’s diagnosis with breast cancer in March 2010.

The pair are planning to use their time to raise money for Clatterbridge Hospital, with Julian also planning a solo motorbike ride up to the Arctic Circle.

Christie & Co said that the restaurant, which offers views over the Wirral peninsula, would be idea for a family looking to relocate to the area or for an independent operator looking to run their own restaurant. For details, contact Christie + Co on 0161 833 3311.

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MANCHESTER-based chartered surveyor Michael Blank & Co has saved client Helix Cheval from an empty rates bill of £630,000 on the former Vue cinemas multiplex building at Pilsworh near Bury by getting the property deleted from the ratings list. The building is owned by an investment fund operated by Helix Cheval.

The firm has also secured a 38% reduction in rents for client Euro Car Parks on a multi-storey cark operated by the firm in Basildon, leading to a £122,000 annual saving in rents.

Founder Michael Blank said that his firm had also received two new instructions – it has been asked to carry out a ratings assessment on a new 200,000 sq ft high bay warehouse at the Buckshaw Village development in Chorley by Golden Acres Pet Foods and an appeal against a ratings valuation on a 500-space car park at the Walkergate centre in Durham by London-based Mondiale Property.

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MANCHESTER Fort Shopping Park at Cheetham Hill in north Manchester has been granted a Green Apple environmental award for its efforts in reducing waste at the centre.

Manchester Fort is owned by Henderson Global Investors’ £1.1bn retail warehouse fund, which has now gained four separate Green Apple awards.
Manchester Fort’s centre manager David Wait said:  “Our aim was to create a series of systems which helps the wider environment and our retailers, who now benefit from simpler and more effective waste management systems at the shopping park.

As a result, the park is no longer sending any waste to landfill and is currently achieving recycling rates of around 100%, it said.

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A MANCHESTER housing company has been fined more than £8,000 for flouting safety rules after carrying out building works.

Mr Bashir Ahmed who represented Project 464 Ltd in court, pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching building regulations on its behalf and the company was fined £2,000 per charge. It was also ordered to pay court costs of over £2,200.

The prosecution was brought following an inspection by Manchester City Council’s building control officers. They found that Project 464’s property on Moss Lane East, Moss Side, had changed use from flats to a hostel for asylum seekers.

The company did not inform Manchester City Council before, during or after the work was completed to allow council surveyors the opportunity to carry out essential safety inspections.

When inspections were carried out, it became apparent that parts of the building did not comply with minimum building standards.

Publicly-used buildings, such as hostels, are often subject to more rigorous standards to ensure the safety of the building’s users who are likely to be less informed about the property’s layout and fire escape routes.

The company had a building regulations application to transform the premises rejected in 2007 due to worries over fire safety standards and a lack of information by the company.

Despite having its application rejected, Project 464 Ltd completed work on Moss Lane East in June 2010 and at the time of inspection, had accommodation for up to 18 asylum seekers at the property.

The company was informed of the contraventions of building regulations, and while some of the essential works were carried out, a substantial number remained incomplete.

Cllr Nigel Murphy, executive member for the environment, said: “Building regulations are essential to make sure every building in the city complies with health and safety standards, and this company has put lives at risk by failing to inform Manchester Council of work going on at their premises.

“I am pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of the offence and I am relieved that we have been able to enforce changes at the property – and hopefully send a message to companies across Manchester.”

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AUCTION House managed to sell 93% of the properties which were put up for sale at its recent auction at Preston North End’s Deepdale ground, which was attended by around 350 investors.

In total, 39 out of the 42 lots (93%) offered for sale by Auction House were sold, raising almost £3.75m.

Auctioneer Oliver Adams said: “This was an exciting auction with a spectacular result. A former doctors’ surgery in Fulwood sold well above its guide price of £250,000 for £301,000 – to a doctor who won’t have to apply for change of use on the building!

“And a restaurant, ‘Inside Out’, about 2 miles from Preston in Walton-le-Dale, proved to be a real bargain, being sold at £50,000 under its guide price of £500,000.”

The firm’s next Lancashire auction will take place on October 20.