Property round-up: Character Group; Sevendale House; ALM; Stanley Land and Homes; FBI; Flat Iron; Livv Housing; IPG
Independent real estate consultancy, Davies Harrison, has been instructed to sell one of the largest available industrial freeholds in the North West.
Acting as sole agents on behalf of its long standing client, Oldham-based toys retailer, CharacterGroup, Infinity House comprises 157,538 sq ft and is situated on a 7.59 acre site.
Rick Davies, of Davies Harrison, said: “This is a very rare freehold opportunity for an occupier to own its own self-contained distribution and warehouse facility in a prime Greater Manchester location.
“The freehold market continues to perform robustly and this is a unique chance to secure a significant asset.”
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Sevendale House
Following the recent refurbishment of Sevendale House, which completed in September 2024, PJD has confirmed two lettings, to Thirdfort and Equity, and has also seen the renewal of leases with existing tenants Equitix, OFR, Foundation Café and Ticketmaster.
The letting to Thirdfort completes the letting of all the forward fitted and furnished suites created on the first floor.
The refurbishment, which commenced in November 2023, created a mix of 20,000 sq ft of character fitted and unfitted workspace, communal breakout and event space, a wellness studio and high quality end of journey facilities, including substantial bike storage and showers.
Software company Thirdfort, which provides automated identity verification and AML software for lawyers, property professionals and accountants, has taken 2,734 sq ft on the first floor on a four-year lease at £33 per sq ft.
Equity, the trade union for the performing arts and entertainment industries in the UK, has taken a 995 sq ft forward fitted suite on the fifth floor for five years at £31.50 per sq ft.
At lower ground level, alongside the One XPS Fitness suite, Khuram Amin of Full Motion Physio has taken a suite, offering physiotherapy services. Both Equitix and OFR have renewed their leases for a further five years, while Foundation Café and Ticketmaster have extended their leases by 10 years.
Mark Davies, PJD Group Director said: “With this latest refurbishment, we’ve created an offer at Sevendale House that focuses on the modern office occupier’s requirements for a work/life balance.”
The sole letting agents were OBI, and Andrew Cowell, who oversaw both lettings, said: “Since OBI was formed, we have worked closely with PJD on Sevendale House, which is a true gem in the heart of the Northern Quarter and a building that continues to set the benchmark for workspace in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.”
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Allsop Letting and Management (ALM), a subsidiary of UK property consultancy Allsop, has been appointed to run Fairfax, a 488-unit build-to-rent (BTR) scheme in central Manchester.
Delivered by Round Hill Capital, in partnership with Olympian Homes, the development comprises 23- and 29-storey towers, with 172 one-bedroom and 316 two-bedroom apartments on offer, and is due to complete in early 2026.
Located at the gateway to the Portugal Street East masterplan regeneration area, the scheme benefits from excellent transport links with Piccadilly train station a five-minute walk away and less than 10 minutes from Ancoats and the Northern Quarter.
Due to its convenient location and the varied mix of apartments on offer, Fairfax is expected to attract a wide renter demographic, including young professionals, families and students.
ALM has a strong track record in managing BTR and single-family developments across the UK and operates three other key assets within Greater Manchester – The Trilogy, Vox and Eda – as part of its portfolio, with 1,300 units under management in the Manchester area alone.
Matt Smith, CEO of Allsop Letting and Management, said: “With a strong track record in residential property management across multi- and single-family housing, our team is well placed to support our client at every stage of the BTR lifecycle.”
Tom France, Head of UK Investment at Round Hill Capital, said: “Fairfax will be a meaningful addition to Manchester’s rental stock as the city continues to experience a rise in demand for quality rental accommodation across a variety of tenant demographics.”
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Stanley Land and Homes has submitted plans for the next phase in its redevelopment of a major former glassworks in the Sutton area of St Helens.
Work began on the first phase of 168 homes on the site off Lancots Lane in February this year.
Now Stanley is progressing with plans for a further 32 homes and a 55,000 sq ft B8 commercial unit that will complete the redevelopment of the 18-acre brownfield site.
Neil Hughes, a director at Stanley Land and Homes, said: “We’re proud to contribute further to the regeneration of Sutton, and with much work already behind us, our ambition to create an outstanding new community from post-industrial obsolescence is now being realised.”
Phase one of the scheme, consisting of one-to-four-bedroom homes and bungalows, is being developed in partnership with housing provider, Torus.
The Lancots Lane scheme is one of two affordable housing developments being delivered in the area by Stanley Land and Homes.
The professional team for Phase 2 at Lancots Lane includes MPSL Planning and Design (architect), Alan Johnston Partnership (engineers), Hive (planning consultant) and Primas Law (legal).
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Arbeta (Rachel Moore Design)
Didsbury-based fit-out and refurbishment company, Flexible Business Interiors (FBI), together with interior designer, Rachel Moore Design, have successfully completed a project for IT-firm Sync at Arbeta, in Manchester.
The CAT B fit-out of two floors at the Northampton Road building took 12 weeks to deliver on site and saw FBI transform 8,200 sq ft into a state-of-the-art head office.
Designed to optimise the potential of Sync’s workforce, and support future growth plans, the new premises utilise a chic, neutral colour palette and high-end furniture to give a luxury feel. Open plan work settings are supported by break out spaces, meeting rooms, a staff kitchen, gymnasium and co-working areas.
Scott Bordoni, Chief Operations Officer at Snyc, said: “We are delighted with the new HQ and the positive impact that it is having both on our people and the business as a whole.”
David Leah, Director at FBI, said: “Delivering this project has been incredibly rewarding and we are pleased to have provided Sync with a modern working environment that has been designed and built to last them for years to come.”
Rachel Moore said: “We are thrilled with the offices that have been completely tailored to suit Sync’s business requirements. Using our experience in high end residential design, we wanted to create a practical office space with a homely feel.”
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Flat Iron Deansgate
Steak restaurant, Flat Iron, has opened its first North West venue in Deansgate’s Royal London House, Manchester, following a design project by interior architecture and design studio, Macaulay Sinclair.
The team worked to uncover the original fabric of the former retail unit, part of the prominent Charles Heathcote building designed in 1904.
Many of the original features, including plaster corbels and cornices, had been covered up by previous occupants as a result of years of neglect and leaks. With the help of specialist plaster workers, these were repaired and reinstated across the venue to allow the detailing of the space to shine through.
John Macaulay, director at Macaulay Sinclair, said: “We’re proud to have completed another project with the Flat Iron team, and to uncover and celebrate the history of this interesting space – much of which has been concealed for some time.”
A key focal point of the restaurant is a custom-built charcoal grill used for finishing specials, such as the Wagyu Steak of the Day and Scottish ribeye. Designed by Rhys Allen, this piece adds an exciting theatrical element to the Flat Iron experience.
The new stand-out interior retains an early 20th-century British character while incorporating modern restaurant functionality.
Flat Iron founder, Charlie Carroll, said “Opening a restaurant in my home town of Manchester is a big deal to me and was a long time coming. The food and drink scene is so exciting at the moment and just keeps getting better – we’re so proud to be a tiny part of it. I fell in love with a beautiful historic building on Deansgate in 2018 and six years on, we are finally open.”
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Work under way at Mossborough Drive scheme
Significant progress is being made on Livv Housing Group’s new social rent housing scheme in Kirkby, Merseyside.
Situated on the former site of the Farmers Arms pub on Mossborough Drive, this £2.6m development will introduce 20 high quality, cottage-style apartments, providing much needed affordable housing in the area.
The development will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, each with its own front door at street level. The homes will be spread across two ‘L’-shaped, two-storey buildings, which will surround a central courtyard with parking and communal gardens for residents to enjoy.
All homes will be available for social rent. This scheme is the first social rent project for Livv, made possible by changes to Homes England’s guidance, which now enables grant funding for social rent homes in Knowsley.
Yvonne Westhead-Fyles, Director of Development at Livv Housing Group, said: “At Livv, we’re committed to providing a range of affordable housing options to tackle both the national housing crisis and meet local demand. Social rent plays a key part in this, ensuring that more people have access to high quality, affordable homes that offer long-term stability.”
The project is being delivered by Liverpool-based contractor, Built Group. David Belcher, Director at Built Group, said: “This is our first project in Kirkby, and we’re proud to partner with Livv once again following the success of our Moss Green Close development in Page Moss.
“As a growing local enterprise, we’ve prioritised working with subcontractors from Knowsley, supporting our local economy.”
Shahi Islam, Director – Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, said: “One of our key objectives is increasing the supply of quality affordable homes and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions.”
The Mossborough Drive scheme is due for completion in summer 2025.
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Bastion Point
Liverpool-based property developer, Integritas Property Group (IPG), has completed Bastion Point, the firm’s largest residential project to date.
Located in the heart of Liverpool, Bastion Point is well connected, just minutes from the city’s iconic waterfront and cultural landmarks.
Each apartment features contemporary interiors and high quality finishes throughout. The open-plan layouts and large windows allow plenty of natural light, creating bright and welcoming living spaces that instantly feel like home.
Mitchell Walsh, Integritas Property Group CEO, said: “As we hand over Bastion Point, we’re thrilled to see our vision come to life; this development isn’t just about creating homes, it’s about enhancing Liverpool’s residential landscape with spaces that add value and foster a sense of community.”
IPG has worked on a number of major North West projects, including The Lyceum in Manchester, Copper Box in Liverpool, and Deakin’s Yard in Newcastle-under-Lyme. This year alone, the developer has completed more than 300 apartments, with a goal of delivering 600 units annually by 2027.
