Property round-up: City Residential & CPM; Manchester Uni; Kellen Homes; Spaces at the Spine; Northspring | Spring Gardens
Liverpool residential agents, City Residential, and Central Property Management (CPM) are merging their lettings operations and launching a JV company to enable continued growth in their respective areas of expertise.
The deal will see City Residential take over the letting portfolio of CPM, integrating it into its existing management operation, together with the transfer of two existing members of staff.
The merger will allow City Residential to continue to grow its portfolio, while allowing CPM to focus on growing and enhancing its reputation as a block management operator in the city.
City Residential’s Managing Director, Alan Bevan, said: “We have worked closely with CPM for many years with City Residential recommending CPM for block management and CPM recommending City Residential for sales, so the merger of the lettings operations is a natural extension to our existing relationship.
“It also allows us to offer additional benefits to CPM’s current clients whilst allowing CPM to continue to build on their substantial growth in block management instructions in the city.”
Sean Duffy owner/director of CPM, said: “When we decided to focus our attention on block management the team at City Residential were our logical partners in taking the lettings portfolio over, especially given their knowledge, reputation and experience in city centre lettings/property management.
“The deal will allow us to build on the progress we have made in becoming the leading residential block manager in the city with numerous new instructions in the pipeline.”
The two companies will continue to operate out of both their existing offices allowing new and existing clients to benefit from having a city and docklands branch.
As well as the deal for the lettings portfolio, the two companies have also announced a new Joint Venture which will see them offer a combined service in both the Private Rented Sector (PRS) and Build to Rent (BTR) market.
In the PRS market the combined operation will target schemes whereby the two companies will work jointly to offer a joined-up approach to freeholders and leaseholders.
The JV is already in talks with several developers, freeholders, lenders and leaseholders to act on their behalf. In the BTR market the JV will look to advise, operate and manage buildings.
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Contractor Henry Brothers Construction has been appointed onto The University of Manchester Construction Framework for the first time.
The company has won four contracts to deliver developments at the university over the past few years, but this appointment onto the framework opens up a pipeline of future projects.
The four-year framework is for schemes from £5m to £20m and Henry Brothers is one of five contractors that have been awarded a place on it.
Henry Brothers Construction MD, Ian Taylor, said: “We are proud to have been appointed onto The University of Manchester Construction Framework and look forward to supporting the university as it continues to improve its estate and facilities.
“Henry Brothers Construction initially began working with the university in early 2022 on the first phase of the refurbishment of the Chemistry building, and we are currently now delivering the second phase of this extensive project. Since then we have also been appointed to undertake two further schemes at the university, so we are very pleased to be cementing our partnership with The University of Manchester by being awarded a place on the university’s construction framework.
“This appointment will support us as we continue to expand our North West office, which opened in Manchester in 2022 and has already relocated to larger office space in the city.”
He added: “Henry Brothers has wide ranging experience of working with universities in the East Midlands, West Midlands and the North West – supporting our partners to invest in their buildings and facilities. This latest framework appointment is great news for the company.”
Henry Brothers Construction is part of The Henry Group, which comprises a number of manufacturing and construction sector companies, ranging from external construction through to interiors fit-out. In partnership with clients, it has a proven track record in education, defence, accommodation, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors.
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Mill Vale site visit
Kellen Homes has handed over the keys to the first homes on the Mill Vale development to partners Sigma Capital Group and First Choice Homes Oldham.
The housebuilder and housing providers visited the site to officially mark the milestone handover of the first houses in the 311 homes development which will include 45 affordable homes – four specially adapted for people with a disability – as well as 99 ‘built-to-rent’ properties for Sigma’s Simple Life Homes.
Kellen Homes has also opened the three show homes on the site and released the first of its open market homes for sale. The new community of homes is being built off Don Street in Middleton on the site of the former British Vita land either side of the River Irk.
Ian Kelley, Chief Executive of Kellen Homes, said: “It is exciting to see the first homes in this locally important development handed over to both Sigma and First Choice Homes Oldham alongside the release of the first phase of homes for sale on the open market by Kellen Homes.”
Keith McFarlane, Head of Development at First Choice Homes Oldham, said: “This project is a perfect example of our continued commitment to provide energy-efficient, good quality affordable housing for rent and shared ownership. The majority of these properties – all three or two-bedroom homes – have already been let. We look forward to receiving the keys to the remaining homes in the coming months.”
Lee Catterall, Associate Development Director at Sigma, said: “It’s great to see our partnership with Kellen is continuing to leave a legacy of regeneration and we are delighted to deliver this important project.”
Kellen Homes is making a financial contribution of more than £1m towards education, outdoor sports and wildlife and plant life as part of the scheme and the plans also include the first part of a future link road with Hilton Fold Lane, while allotments will be transferred to the council.
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Spaces at the Spine atrium
Liverpool’s destination for world-class events, Spaces at The Spine, is WELL Certified at the Platinum level through the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), becoming the only venue in the city to hold the prestigious title.
Spaces at The Spine is housed within The Spine, the northern home of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), the oldest medical association in the UK. The Spine building was opened by Liverpool City Council in 2021 and it is one of the healthiest buildings in the North West and the UK.
Created to monitor features of buildings that impact human health and wellbeing, the WELL Building Standard measures 10 concepts including air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community.
The floors belonging to the RCP have now been awarded the highest rating possible due to its range of architectural features that promote wellbeing. These include biophilic strategies such as the installation of natural materials, ie timber, and abundant indoor plants, daylight optimisation, its adjoining wellness cafe, The Base, which centres around healthy and vegan/plant-based food, and more.
The WELL Platinum certification follows the achievement of BREEAM Outstanding for the RCP’s Liverpool offices and venue, which evaluates the environmental performance of buildings and infrastructure, and a series of sustainability award wins including the Conference and Events Awards, miaList and more. This has helped position the venue amongst the top performing for sustainability and wellbeing credentials in the region.
Spaces at The Spine offers ergonomic and intelligent spaces for conferences, workshops and dining in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter. It showcases the best-in-class building connectivity across three floors with flexible layouts to continuously create bespoke events.
Natacha Allen, Spaces at The Spine’s Head of Commercial Events, said: “Wellbeing and sustainability are at the core of our offer, and we believe it’s important to offer delegates a unique experience that positively impacts their health. The WELL Building Standard’s principles have been incorporated in each aspect of our venue to achieve this result, and we couldn’t be prouder of this achievement.”
Robert Hopkins, Head of Sustainability at AHR Architects, said: “RCP were real pioneers in adopting the WELL Standard as the perfect way of expressing the core values of the organisation. Our shared vision was to shape more than just a building, but an experience. A space designed with a philosophy that people will feel healthier when they walk out of the building than when they arrived.”
Giuliano Camerini, Senior Sustainability and Health and Wellbeing Consultant, ESG Consultancy at CBRE UK, said: “The health and wellbeing journey of RCP is visible to all working at and visiting the building and it is a clear pathway of the office of the future, with the occupant and the environment at the centre of the design.”
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Global fashion brand, Hugo Boss, is moving into a first floor suite at Northspring | Spring Gardens.
Rosie Veitch, Associate at Sixteen Real Estate, said: “We are thrilled to announce the completion of this deal with Hugo Boss at Northspring | Spring Gardens. This marks Hugo Boss’s first office in Manchester and their decision to move into a Northspring building underscores the appeal of generous amenities and a prime location.
“Hugo Boss makes a great addition to the occupier profile and vibrant atmosphere here at the Spring Gardens office.”
Northspring | Spring Gardens offers a range of amenities, including The Club – a stylish business lounge with meeting rooms, hot-desking space, zoom booths, and a refreshments bar. The Park, which houses wellness facilities such as cycle storage, a prayer room, new showers and changing rooms, and a fully equipped fitness suite and The Deck, a private roof terrace.
Leasing an office at Northspring allows users to work across all seven of its boutique offices across the country, located in Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester.
There are only three suites remaining at Northspring | Spring Gardens, from 1,100 sq ft-1,500 sq ft offering both furnished and unfurnished options.
Northspring | Spring Gardens has recently been awarded an EPC-B rating. Sustainability is an important part of the Northspring ethos with several initiatives being in place, including the Northspring Bike for occupiers to use free of charge, EV charging bays, and extensive wellness amenities.
Sixteen Real Estate and Edwards are joint agents on the building.
