Property round-up: Edwards; Ecclesiastical Insurance; Persimmon; McCarthy Stone; Euan Kellie Property Solutions; CBRE
Edwards, the independent Manchester-based property consultancy, has sold a 27,200 sq ft self-contained office building on Lingley Mere Business Park.
The deal marks the largest vacant possession office sale in Warrington in the past 12 months.
Acting on behalf of the former owner occupier, United Utilities, the building, known as 4 Clearwater, was sold for £3.9m to a private investor.
Strategically situated close to junction eight of the M62, next to OMEGA, Lingley Mere Business Park boasts an array of facilities including an on-site Food Hall, a children’s day nursery, running/cycle paths, transport links with shuttle buses running daily all situated around a lake providing a picturesque backdrop for occupiers.
Ed Keany, director of Edwards, said: “Following United Utilities’ decision to consolidate its operations on the park, we were instructed to sell both this building and a second one of 9,044 sq ft.
The significant levels of interest that we received is largely due to the exceptional quality of accommodation available and the unparalleled amenities that the park offers within a stunning landscaped setting. We are also in active conversations for the second property, which is testament to the enduring appeal of this unique business destination.”
BE Group was the joint agent. The purchaser was unrepresented.
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Ecclesiastical Insurance’s Manchester-based team has relocated to new premises in the city’s central business district.
The specialist insurer has moved to 11 York Street in the heart of the city. The new office space, with views overlooking the city’s central business district, offers a modern and flexible workspace.
Ecclesiastical’s Manchester-based Commercial trading team, headed by Andy Williamson, is responsible for writing Property & Casualty (P&C) business through brokers across Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ecclesiastical’s Art and Private Client and Casualty Claims teams also have a presence in the Manchester office.
Andy Williamson said: “We’ve been in the heart of the city in St Ann’s Square for the last 10 years and loved our time there, but finding a new home that gives us a modern and environmentally sustainable workspace has been a priority for us.
“It was important for us to stay in the heart of Manchester and 11 York Street provides us with a brilliant place to work in a fantastic location. As our business, appetite and product offering continues to grow, it’s become increasingly important for us to have a ‘best in class’ office that mirrors our growing reputation and ambition within the P&C marketplace.”
The premises at 11 York Street is designed to meet British Council for Offices (BCO) Best Practice requirements and is rated as Grade A against Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International classifications.
As well as meeting quality classifications, the building is also constructed to be energy-efficient, cost effective, and targeted to achieve BREEAM excellent rating. The office space has also received the official platinum accreditation from the team at CyclingScore, the highest level of accreditation available.
Other tenants at 11 York Street include Aon, Tysers, Rolls-Royce and Avison Young.
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Plans for Bluebell Walk
Bolton Council has approved housebuilder Persimmon’s plans for the final phase of homes on its Bluebell Walk development in Westhoughton.
Built under Persimmon’s Charles Church brand, the 21 new homes will provide a mix of four- and five-bedroom houses.
As part of planning approvals for the wider site, Persimmon has contributed more than £370,000 to the local authority towards the provision of primary school places at The Gates Primary School and St George’s CofE Primary School.
Homes on the wider development range from one-bed through to five-bed detached – 105 of the homes on the wider development will be transferred to a local housing association.
Residents have access to more than nine acres of useable public open space, the equivalent of 4.5 football pitches.
Chris Kershaw, Development Director Charles Church North West, said: “We are committed to building high quality, affordable homes for local people, and this development provides a mix of house sizes for families and downsizers alike.
“Our development also provides significant funding for education in the local area.”
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Plans for Ansdell site
Retirement communities developer, McCarthy Stone, has submitted plans to Fylde Borough Council for the redevelopment of land at the former Lytham Sixth Form college site, Ansdell.
The high quality retirement living accommodation scheme, specifically designed to meet the need of people in later life, would represent the regeneration of a brownfield site.
The project will deliver a development of 42 Retirement Living apartments, featuring a homeowners’ lounge, set amongst attractive, landscaped gardens with on-site parking provision, as well as a guest suite, lift access to all floors, and a mobility scooter charging and storage room. The plans will also include 17 Retirement Living bungalows with parking and private gardens.
Ahead of submitting a planning application, McCarthy Stone carried out a public consultation with the local community on its initial proposals – the feedback received was used to inform the submitted plans which were also informed by specialist urban design and transport consultants.
Ciaran Aldridge, Divisional Managing Director North, McCarthy Stone, said: “There is a real need for specialist retirement accommodation in Ansdell, and this proposal would go some way to addressing that, whilst at the same time releasing existing family homes onto the market and relieving the pressure on local greenfield sites.”
McCarthy Stone’s plans will be determined by Fylde Borough Council in the coming months.
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Oldham Road scheme
Manchester-based planning consultancy, Euan Kellie Property Solutions, has helped clients reach major milestones on four sites across Manchester in the past weeks.
Located in Ardwick, Ancoats and Newton Heath, the proposals incorporate 125 properties, including affordable housing and the transformation of an existing, vacant building to create a new healthy eating restaurant.
This week, detailed proposals submitted for Phases 2 and 3 of its Oldham Road residential scheme will provide 109 new affordable homes. Comprising houses and apartments, the plans follow an earlier phase of 39 of homes currently under construction.
Also, on behalf of Step Places, proposals for 16 new townhouses on Ardwick Green were approved last week.
It represents one of the first sites to come forward from the Ardwick Green Neighbourhood Development Framework.
In Ancoats, plans for a new restaurant on Henry Street have been approved bringing Fresh Fuel one step closer to an eaterie that will focus specifically on providing healthy food options. The team worked closely with Manchester’s officers on the proposal, which lies within the Ancoats Conservation Area.
Phil Grant, associate director at Euan Kellie Property Solutions and project manager at Oldham Road, said: “It’s fair to say there is plenty happening in Manchester at the moment and we’re pleased to be able to be advising these proactive developers with their ambitious plans for the city. Manchester is at the heart of our business and we feel strongly committed to helping shape it and create positive change.”
Other consultants involved in the projects include Coda Architecture (Ardwick Green), Mere Development Group and E3 Architecture (Ancoats) and TP Bennett (Oldham Road).
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101 Old Hall Street
CBRE’s Office Agency team in Liverpool has secured two lettings totalling more than 10,700 sq ft of space at the landmark 101 Old Hall Street office building in the city’s core business district.
Mellior Construction and BPS Solicitors have signed deals for Grade A modern office accommodation in the refurbished building. CBRE acted for Priory Liverpool.
Mellior Construction has grown into a permanent home, taking 4,245 sq ft on a five-year lease and law firm BPS Solicitors has signed a six-year deal for 6,505 sq ft of space, relocating to the city centre from Bootle. With the completion of these latest deals, there remains only 3,760 sq ft across a range of suites from 1,020 sq ft.
The building is situated on the corner of Old Hall Street and Brook Street, near Moorfields train station and immediately opposite the St Paul’s Square mixed use development. It has recently undergone a significant transformation to deliver a remodelled building with sustainability at its heart.
It comprises more than 136,000 sq ft over eight floors and includes a new reception, cycle store, shower facilities and a 17,000 sq ft refurbishment of the fifth floor. CBRE Project Management delivered the refurbishment works.
101 Hall Street is surrounded by its own landscaped plaza and orientated to take advantage of the river views. It also benefits from a two-storey underground car park comprising 80 spaces, as well as cycle storage.
Directors of the landlord, Priory (Liverpool), said: “We are very proud of this property in our portfolio. At all times we are aiming to achieve the highest possible ESG with our investments and we are absolutely delighted that this worked out so well with the recently refurbished fifth floor, as well as the lobby and the cycle area. We are convinced that all existing and future tenants will enjoy working in this space.”
Andrew Byrne, Director, CBRE’s Office Agency team in Liverpool, said: “With the recent investment into transforming the building, its fantastic amenities and Grade A offering, it continues to attract discerning tenants looking for high quality offices in a central, convenient location with ESG at the heart of the recent refurbishment.”
Alistair Davies, Director, BPS Solicitors, said: “Thanks to CBRE we have secured a more modern space that matches our ambitions. Not only will this space offer us a brighter, open plan workspace with excellent amenities nearby, it also gives us the opportunity for further expansion and we believe being in the heart of the business district will promote that.”
