Property round-up: Eric Wright Construction; Hiscox; MediaCity; Bentley Motors; Great Places; Wirral Waters; Hillview Real Estate
Eric Wright Construction has reached a key milestone in the delivery of a new multimillion-pound drug development facility for Bristol Myers Squibb, a global pharmaceutical company based in Moreton, Wirral.
The 37,000 sq ft facility is currently being constructed to help futureproof the firm’s offering, providing laboratories and open plan office space for up to 200 colleagues. The building has now reached its highest point with roof works commencing and the completion of specialist ground source heat pump installation works.
The building has been designed with sustainability and colleague wellbeing in mind, with large panels of glazing maximising natural light. Flexible office seating with a range of collaboration zones helps to inspire collaboration, creativity and innovation, while increasing capacity and efficiency.
Designed by ADP Architects and built by Preston-based Eric Wright Construction, the new building is targeting BREEAM ‘outstanding’ accreditation and will also feature extensive landscape areas.
Steve Reid, Pre-construction Director at Eric Wright Construction, said: “The team is incredibly proud to be working with Bristol Myers Squibb on this project delivering a low energy, low carbon and sustainable facility. It is great to have reached these milestones and be on track for practical completion in May 2025.”
The ground source heat pump, designed and installed by specialist subcontractor Geroserv, is fundamental in providing the energy-efficient heating and cooling of the building space. The overall installation of the geothermal probes and grouting has the capacity to provide 180kW of heat/cooling per hour.
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Northspring | Peter Street welcomes Hiscox to the building this month as they take a lease for the seventh floor.
Specialist insurer, Hiscox, has been actively searching for a new, amenity-focused workspace in the heart of Manchester. This move aligns with its strong emphasis on growing its local Manchester market, which is a crucial component of its broader strategy.
Hiscox Regional Manager, Chris Hanson, said: “Hiscox are delighted to secure our exciting new office space at Northspring | Peter Street following an extensive search of city centre options. Combining a prime location, first class amenity facilities, and a friendly and collaborative approach throughout the process was key to the decision to relocate here.
“Investing in Manchester and growing our business in this local market is key to the Hiscox UK strategy and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with the Northspring team.”
Rosie Vietch, from Sixteen Real Estate, said: “Hiscox has relocated from Spinningfields back into the traditional Central Business District highlighting occupiers’ demand for rich amenity, prime location, and excellent transport links.”
Northspring | Peter Street now only has three available suites left, with some additional offices available across the Northspring portfolio in Manchester ranging from 1,100-3,800 sq ft with fully fitted and furnished packages also on offer.
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Orange Tower refurbishment
MediaCity’s landmark Orange Tower is undergoing some changes, with a full refurbishment of its seventh-floor offices.
Consensus Workspace has completely redesigned and refitted the 7,000 sq ft space, to welcome prospective new tenants. The refit took just 8 weeks to complete so any new tenants would be able to use the space immediately, where they will be working alongside neighbours such as ITV, Kellogg’s and The University of Salford.
Orange has a very high profile location on the waterfront and boasts incredible views across the marina and quays. The expansive seventh level in Orange Tower has floor to ceiling windows to make the most of these views and they were enhanced further in Consensus’s new design, with internal ceilings removed to maximise the space and show off the industrial roof fittings.
A curved natural path was then created throughout the floor to encourage flow, with a new boardroom, meeting rooms and kitchen area, as well as soft seating collaborative areas and break out spaces. The interior styling reflects the outdoors, with natural materials such as wood and a colour scheme of greens, terracotta and beiges which are complemented by plants, proven to help boost productivity.
Consensus MD, Andy Plastow, said: “This is another outstanding fit-out in partnership with MediaCity. It’s a pleasure to work with the team – their approach to keeping the office spaces contemporary is admirable. It’s vital to recognise the changing role of the office and embrace the way in which interior design can have such a positive impact on work.”
Chris Reay, Leasing Director at Landsec, says: “We have now worked with Consensus Workspace on a number of office refits and refurbishments. They understand the needs of MediaCity and as experts in commercial office spaces, recognise the requirements of our existing and potential customers.”
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Bentley Motors has celebrated a significant milestone in the construction of its new Design Centre with a topping out ceremony marking the completion of the building’s structural phase.
This moment was marked by Bentley’s new Chairman and CEO, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, and Andreas Lehe and Dr Matthias Rabe, board members for Manufacturing and R&D, respectively.
The new Design Centre, which will be completed next year, converts one of Bentley’s most historic buildings on site, the famous ‘Front of House’ with a fresh design and architecture conceptualised by Bentley’s very own design team. Dating back to 1939 and the origins of Bentley Motors in Crewe, the building has been a cornerstone of Bentley’s legacy having hosted celebrated visitors including Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
On completion, the new space will be approximately double the size of the previous design centre, and will be home to around 50 designers, covering exterior, interior and colour and trim.
Dr Matthias Rabe said: “We are currently in the middle of a design revolution that will help define a new chapter for Bentley design, as part of our Beyond100 transformational journey. Therefore, building an innovative, creative environment for our designers to drive the development of future BEV models and more extraordinary products is key to our aim of becoming the world’s leading sustainable luxury mobility company.”
Bentley’s industry-leading Beyond100 strategy will see the company reinvent its entire product range to support a fully electrified future. This expansion is a crucial part of Bentley’s £2.5bn investment programme in future products and the Pyms Lane factory in Crewe.
Andreas Lehe said: “Modernising our site not only gives a clear commitment to a long term future in Crewe, however also shows our ambition that to continue to invest in state-of-the-art buildings will help establish a benchmark position in truly digital, innovative, highly flexible luxury car development and manufacture.”
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The planned development
Manchester-based Great Places Housing Group has submitted plans for its ‘first of a kind’ purpose-built majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme in Whalley Range, south Manchester.
The housing association, with extensive experience of designing, developing, and managing a wide variety of affordable general needs, supported and specialist housing, has submitted proposals planned for the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road, Whalley Range, which was demolished in 2019. The brownfield site has since remained vacant.
The plans for the majority Extra Care housing scheme have been developed with the input of the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and the LGBT Foundation. The planned scheme will deliver 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments for older people within a high quality sustainable building of four to five storeys that offers both a strong and inviting presence while designed with the context of the surrounding conservation area in mind.
The low-carbon scheme will include shared communal facilities including lounges, treatment rooms and landscaped gardens and will look to ensure an overall net gain of trees on the site.
The residents will be aged 55 years or over, with the majority of residents being members of the LGBTQ+ community from Manchester. Living alongside allies, the aim is to provide an open and inclusive, physical, and psychological place of safety for the older LGBTQ+ community and a welcome addition to the Whalley range area.
The site will also include a neighbouring shared ownership block consisting of 40 apartments, a mix of one- and two-bed apartments, delivering affordable homes to first time buyers and eligible customers, helping to address emerging affordability issues in places such as Whalley Range. The shared ownership apartment block will reflect the design principles and provision of private amenity space to reinforce the sense of place this development offers the existing community.
The development will be funded by Great Places, complemented by grant funding from Homes England and the GMCA Brownfield Housing Fund.
Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “We know there is a real need for this type of affordable housing that can support older LGBTQ+ people in the city to age with dignity, surrounded by a community of like-minded people. Extra Care homes are an attractive and affordable housing choice for people later in life, and where some ongoing care needs can be accommodated on-site.”
Paul Martin, CEO at LGBT Foundation, said: “From increased social isolation to fear of discrimination and abuse in later life, older LGBTQ+ people have unique and often overlooked housing and care needs. The Russell Road majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care scheme is intended to address these inequalities, allowing our community to age independently, safely, securely and with pride.”
Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, said: “By fostering a sense of community and living alongside allies, we aspire to offer both physical and psychological safety. Additionally, the adjacent shared ownership block will contribute to addressing affordability challenges in the Whalley Range area. The planning submission marks an important milestone in this groundbreaking development, and we look forward to continuing working with our partners, Manchester City Council, LGBT Foundation, and the Community Steering Group to make this vision a reality.”
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Millers Quay
Celebrations have taken place at Wirral Waters to celebrate the practical completion of the first 150 highly sustainable waterside apartments at Peel Waters’ Millers Quay development.
With extensive views across the water, the £130m cornerstone residential scheme of 500 new homes across six buildings is transforming the Left Bank of the River Mersey and seen as an exemplar in brownfield regeneration.
Millers Quay is the single biggest development to date at Wirral Waters. The transformational Millers Quay development will also include 100 affordable new homes and has been commended for the social impact delivered within the local community.
Following completion, residents will shortly move into the one- and two-bedroom apartments within phase one, which includes blocks ‘Copper Mill’ and ‘Steam Yard’. Phase two, the final 350 new homes, within blocks Soda Factory, Salt House, Glaze Works and Lime Studio, are expected to complete early in 2025.
Millers Quay is part of the emerging Northbank neighbourhood at Wirral Waters, where contemporary and sustainable urban living is surrounded by green spaces and dockside walkways.
Wirral Waters is part of Peel Waters, a UK-wide portfolio of vibrant and innovative, waterfront developments, delivering large scale, sustainable regeneration projects, creating jobs, economic growth, new homes and new public realm across the country.
Richard Mawdsley, Development Director at Wirral Waters, said: “We are very proud to mark this special moment in Wirral Waters’ history with the practical completion of the first phase of this mammoth project. Millers Quay is the result of incredible partnership working between Peel Waters, PIC, GRAHAM, Homes England, Wirral Council and Wirral Met College, each bringing something very important to the project.”
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Phoenix House
Hillview Real Estate, the UK regional investor, has signed a lease agreement with Community Health and Eyecare (CHEC) for 7,743 sq ft of office space at Phoenix House in Warrington.
CHEC, a specialist provider of community-based ophthalmology services in the UK, has taken the first floor of Phoenix House on a lease until 2033 at a rent of £17.50/sq ft, a record rent for the building. The tenant has completed an extensive capital expenditure programme of around £1m at the building, installing modern laboratory, treatment and consultatiom facilities.
Phoenix House provides 23,308 sq ft of Grade A office space over four floors with balconies, galleried landing, new LED lighting and secure cycle storage. The 7,730 sq ft ground floor and a unit of 3,815 sq ft on the second floor remain available to let through letting agents, Knight Frank and Roberts Vain Wilshaw.
The site is located within walking distance of Warrington town centre, Warrington Bank Quay railway station and Golden Square bus station. It also benefits from good road access to the M62, M56 and M6, providing transport links to the regional cities of Manchester and Liverpool.
Evan Corcoran, asset manager at Hillview Real Estate, said: “We are thrilled to welcome CHEC to Phoenix House. This new lease is testament to the high quality office space on offer at the property and reinforces the strong level of occupier demand for modern, market leading office space that we are continuing to see across the UK’s regional hubs.”
Hillview Real Estate was advised by Knight Frank and Roberts Vain Wilshaw.
