Property round-up: Coronation Point; Warden Construction; King Street Townhouse; Carefoot; Barker Proudlove; PJ Livesey Group; Normie
A development of commercial units in Ellesmere Port has now reached full occupancy.
Coronation Point comprises six commercial units ranging from more than 1,500 sq ft to almost 2,400 sq ft with onsite parking and EV charging points.
Keppie Massie, which is jointly marketing the former Travis Perkins outlet with LM6, has now agreed sales on all six units.
The scheme, located near to Cheshire Oaks retail park and within easy reach of the M53 motorway, has attracted a number of owner-occupiers including Door Access & Entrance Systems (DAES), Datomatic Services, Events Photo Team, and Premier Roofing.
Tim Garnett, head of commercial agency at Keppie Massie, said: “The success of the scheme demonstrates a strong appetite from owner-occupiers seeking to secure modern fit for purpose industrial units.
“It offers excellent, contemporary amenity to occupiers and their staff in a great location.
“This has proven popular for SMEs and entrepreneurial businesses. This product, both in terms of size and quality, is a very rare offer and appeals greatly to companies seeking to invest.”
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Whiston Hospital
Warden Construction has completed work on a £4.4m project to create two state-of-the-art operating theatres and a recovery ward at Whiston Hospital in Prescot.
The complex 12-month conversion project was delivered by Warden on behalf of VINCI Facilities and Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
It involved the part-conversion of a third floor administration hub and the complete strip out and remodeling of a floor area of around 1,100 sq m.
The converted space has enabled the creation of two level 4 operating theatres and a five-bed high dependency recovery ward, together with associated technical and administrative support rooms.
Ian Williams, managing director at Preston-based Warden Construction, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our whole project team and supply chain for delivering this project on schedule and ensuring as little disruption as possible for hospital patients, staff and visitors.
“The new operating theatres and recovery ward will have a transformative impact on patients and hospital users, something that gives all of us a great deal of comfort and sense of achievement.
“This was a highly technical project because it involved reconfiguring lots of existing systems above occupied rooms and wards. In addition to these technical complexities, the project was logistically challenging as it was positioned directly above the main hospital entrance and throughfare.”
Warden’s work on the project also included a comprehensive fixed furniture and equipment package comprising bespoke installations and new finishes applied throughout. All works were completed to meet the technical standards within the Hospital Technical Memorandum compliance guide.
Whiston Hospital opened in 2010 and is a state-of-the-art facility offering care to patients across Merseyside, Cheshire and beyond.
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ESPA Spa bathroom
King Street Townhouse, the THG-owned Manchester hotel, has announced the opening of its new ESPA Suite, crafted in collaboration with ESPA’s 30 years of holistic spa knowledge.
The ESPA Suite is the first ESPA-branded bedroom worldwide and has been designed to redefine the traditional hotel stay as an indulgent wellness retreat.
ESPA Suite guests are offered a complementary 30-minute treatment in King Street Townhouse Hotel’s ESPA Spa, and can pamper themselves further with the in-room ESPA Bath Butler – providing one of six curated rituals such as Restorative, Energising, and Soothing – included in their stay.
Stays can be customised to include the ESPA Snug, a cosy connecting space, to feel even more at home and provide additional space for friends or family.
The Suite offers elevated details throughout – a king-size bed with handmade Hypnos mattress, ESPA amenities, towels, and robes, premium Dyson hair styling tools, two 65” flat-screen QLED TVs, and more. The Suite also features a mini-bar filled with handpicked drinks and snacks.
Viki Tahmasebi, CEO, THG Experience, said: “We’ve left no stone unturned in considering every detail of this stunning wellness space.”
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St Augustine’s RC High School
Two major expansion projects at Ribble Valley secondary schools are set to be completed in the coming weeks.
St Augustine’s RC High School in Billington is undergoing a £2.7m expansion to create a new teaching block, while a new £2.85m standalone building is under construction at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School which will include three new classrooms, a drama studio and laboratory.
The construction of both projects is being led by Lancashire-based construction company, Carefoot, on behalf of Lancashire County Council and will support the need for additional school places in the area.
John Brogden, principal quantity surveyor, Lancashire County Council, said: “These important expansion projects have been funded through basic need expansion capital funds to cater for the rising need for pupil places in the Ribble Valley area over the coming years.”
The project at St Augustine’s began in July 2023. It is around 10,000 sq ft and will accommodate up to 230 pupils and staff. In addition to six new classrooms and two special educational needs classrooms, it will include a dining room, life skills and group rooms as well as offices and meeting rooms. The area will also feature a special educational needs garden.
It has been designed by Lancashire County Council’s architectural team, alongside the council’s interior design team, structural engineer and building services engineer.
The new teaching block at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School’s Chatburn Road site is around 5,600 sq ft and will also include a textiles room, offices, storage space and toilets. Construction began in August 2023 and work is also expected to be completed in the coming weeks. It is being built in response to Lancashire County Council’s plans to increase the school’s intake by 30 pupils from September 2024’s year 7s.
Colin Carefoot, chief executive, Carefoot, said: “We have delivered nearly 200 school construction projects over the past 10 years and every one is unique.
“The new teaching blocks will not only cater for the intake of additional pupils at both schools, but will also provide a modern teaching environment to help facilitate learning. The project at St Augustine will also help the school better provide for the needs of SEN pupils.”
Carefoot has also spent time with pupils at both St Augustine’s and Clitheroe Royal Grammar to help them understand career opportunities in the property and construction industry.
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Barker Proudlove has supported its Greater Manchester Council clients by transacting significant lettings with major high-street retailers across the region.
Three council landlords have secured new deals with B&M, Look Fantastic, JD Sports and Poundland, with the help of the retail and leisure property experts.
First, the team at Barker Proudlove facilitated a key relocation in Oldham for retail giant, B&M. The deal has seen the value retailer move its Oldham store to a new approximately 30,000 sq ft site, in the Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre. The site opened in June and will see the bargain business scale up its operations in the town, bringing new jobs for its residents.
Barker Proudlove also aided online retail giant Look Fantastic in opening its first physical concept store in Altrincham. The new lease will see the business take approximately 5,400 sq ft of prime retail space on George Street.
Stockport town centre will also benefit from two major openings thanks to Barker Proudlove, with JD Sports and Poundland currently fitting out new stores at Merseyway Shopping Centre. Both retailers have increased their presence in Stockport, with JD Sports leasing circa 14,000 sq ft and Poundland taking 9,000 sq ft of space, both over two levels. The modern anchor stores are set to open later this year.
Jessica Swain, of Barker Proudlove, said: “Anchor retailers are still the bedrock of any town centre retailing provision. They are the main daytime footfall drivers and remain key to the success of town centres.”
Tom Prescott, Barker Proudlove director, said: “We want to continue working with businesses that will make a positive impact on towns for local people. While numerous commentators are keen to push local tenants as the solution for town centre retailing, the reality is successful towns need a blend of both local and national brands to ensure the ongoing vibrancy and success of their retail provision.
“We’re confident that, in their new locations, these businesses will thrive and make a lasting impression on Greater Manchester communities.”
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Georgina Lynch
Specialist property developer the PJ Livesey Group has been newly named as a delivery partner for Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency.
The family-run group, based at Trafford Park, has spent more than 40 years transforming some of the finest historic properties into new homes. It has subsequently branched out to newly built homes, with bespoke designs for every site they take on.
One of the largest vendors of residential land in the country, Home England’s Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is one of the agency’s main routes for land disposal. PJ Livesey Group’s appointment to the list of preferred developers means the team will now have access to bid for the agency’s land.
Georgina Lynch, Managing Director at PJ Livesey Group, said: “We’re extremely proud of the legacy we’ve created since our very first home in 1979. Our appointment as a Homes England delivery partner not only recognises how far we’ve come, but will open up new opportunities to bring our brand of sustainable development to more locations across the UK.”
As well as Homes England, other public bodies may also use the DPS to procure developers, broadening housebuilders exposure to potential projects.
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Estate agency, Normie, has acquired Jennie Platt Estates in North Manchester. This strategic move increases the number of letting properties under management to nearly 600 units.
The acquisition aligns with Normie Estate Agent’s vision to expand its footprint and enhance its property management and sales services in the North Manchester area.
Josh Gertler, Normie Estate Agents director, said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome the properties and clients from Jennie Platt Estates into the Normie family. This acquisition not only expands our portfolio but also integrates a wealth of experience and local market knowledge, which will undoubtedly benefit our clients.”
Jennie Platt will continue to lead her established city centre agency City Centre Chic, concentrating on strengthening her presence and services in the heart of Manchester. She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for both our clients and team. Normie Estate Agents’ reputation for excellence and growth makes them the perfect fit to take over our North Manchester operation. I look forward to focusing on our city centre agency.”
