Property round-up: Caro Devs; Corner Block; Annie Kenney Mill; ForHousing; Voicescape; Arndale; Davies Harrison; Beckhoff UK
Liverpool-based Caro Developments has submitted a planning application for the refurbishment of a redundant office building in central Warrington.
Hilden House, which has a prime position opposite Warrington’s Georgian town hall and the 17-acre Bank Park, will be converted to 100 one-bed apartments under permitted development rights. The development will include a concierge, fully equipped gym and wellness room, residents’ lounge and co-working area, as well as a dedicated secure parcel room.
An application was submitted last week, with Neil Carlyle of Caro committing to begin work immediately, should consent be granted.
He said: “This is a superb location that will allow us to provide high specification homes that contribute towards the council’s strategy of boosting the number of town centre residents. We will set a new benchmark for quality and for rental levels and will begin work promptly on receipt of consent.”
The 52,400 sq ft building rises to five storeys, with an exposed white concrete frame and dark brick cladding. Its position in the Town Hall Conservation Area means any façade modifications will have to be sympathetic to the surrounding area, says architect Robert Brym of Falconer Chester Hall: “The building offers us a pleasing urban aesthetic with scope to use updated fenestration to give it a very contemporary feel amidst the redbrick palette of the surrounding streets.”
The £18m development offers 58 car parking spaces and cycle and bin storage to the rear of the building, accessed via Winmarleigh Street. Savills advised on planning and heritage, with Clancy (structural engineers) also part of the project’s professional team.
Hilden House was previously used by the Department for Work and Pensions and was constructed in 1977. The building was acquired from Elite UK Real Estate Investment Trust in November 2024 for £3.3m, subject to planning.
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Corner Block
Britannia Invest, represented by Catella APAM and advised by international real estate advisor Savills, has let space at Corner Block, Quay Street in Manchester to Harrison Drury & Co, represented by Tenant Advisory Group.
The law firm has agreed a new five-year lease on part of the fifth floor at Corner Block, which totals 3,191 sq ft and benefits from a first class speculative fit-out, ready for immediate occupation.
In addition to this latest letting, the landlord has also recently completed works on the first floor to deliver fitted suites of 5,000 sq ft and 3,300 sq ft at a quoting rent of £35 per sq ft.
Daniel Barnes, office agency director at Savills Manchester, said: “We have seen fitted space become more popular across the UK office market and in Manchester it has established itself as a solid solution for occupiers across the board – saving time, reducing risk and removing some of the upfront capital expenditure.
“The fitted space at Corner Block offers a high quality option for occupiers looking for highly specified, flexible and immediate office space in the city centre.”
Sixteen Real Estate is joint leasing agent on the building.
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Annie Kenney Mill
Annie Kenney Mill, the newly constructed office development in Hollinwood, which is the only recent speculative office scheme outside of Manchester city centre, has let the whole of the first floor to WeDo Business Services.
The suite, amounting to 5,888 sq ft, is currently being fitted out and will be ready for occupation in a few weeks’ time.
The lease reinforces the developer’s vision that the offices are in arguably the best location in Greater Manchester with unrivalled accessibility and transport links. The design and development of The Mills were inspired by Oldham’s history at the heart of the industrial revolution and the textile industry, but with future-proof touches that make the offices perfect for modern businesses.
Su Schofield of The Mills Hollinwood, said: “We are glad to be able to accommodate WeDo in Annie Kenney Mill, to join our existing tenants, Remedian IT and Equans Regeneration.
“We are happy to see Oldham benefit from high quality jobs in Annie Kenney Mill.”
Retained agents are Nolan Redshaw and JLL.
Paul Nolan, of Nolan Redshaw, said: “This is another fantastic deal for our clients, and a good news story for the area.”
Just one suite, of 3,758 sq ft, remains available.
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ForHousing has completed work on a development at Dudley Street, providing 18 affordable homes in the Eccles area.
The scheme consists of 15 one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom apartments, aligning with Salford City Council’s priority of delivering more social and affordable homes in the borough.
With a total value of £3.45m, the development received £1.6m in external funding, £1.35m from Homes England, and £270,000 from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Brownfield Grant funding programme.
Residents will benefit from dedicated car parking allocation and pedestrian footpaths, which will link the public highway for inclusive access.
The new homes were designed by C4 Projects, built with developers Winworth Construction, and received extra support from property consultants Neo Projects.
Additionally, Winworth has provided four local labour opportunities during the duration of the build as well as generously contributing, alongside ForHousing, to the local Little Hulton Community Hub new-build with the offer of supplying and fitting a new toilet block.
Nigel Sedman, Executive Director of Homes at ForHousing, said: “After almost two years of construction, we are thrilled that individuals and families will be able to move into new homes on Dudley Street. This is a step forward in ensuring everyone has a place to call home.”
Cllr Tracy Kelly, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty at Salford City Council, said: “The Dudley Street development is another welcome addition to Eccles, helping us to address the need for affordable housing across Salford.”
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Voicescape team
Manchester software services communications business, Voicescape, has relocated its headquarters to flagship office campus, Exchange Quay. The move sees the firm double its current office footprint as a result of sustained growth, both in terms of headcount and market share.
Voicescape has agreed a 10-year lease on more than 5,000 sq ft on the fourth floor of the ICE Building. Agents on Exchange Quay are Canning O’Neill and Colliers.
Relocating from their former Manchester residence at Urban Splash’s Boat Shed, Voicescape will occupy a full floor suite where the team of 55 staff will service its expanding nationwide social landlords and local authority client base.
Muhammed Shaikh, Head of Marketing at Voicescape, said: “As a Manchester based tech business we are proud of our roots and have access to some of the best talent in the country. Moving into ICE at Exchange Quay gives us the space for our current employees, whilst also accommodating future growth.”
Les Lang, Director, Till AM, said: “Voicescape is a welcome addition to our tenant mix here at Exchange Quay and we know they are looking forward to being part of the community we have created and continue to invest in.”
Dominic Pozzoni, Director, Colliers, said: “Following a great 2024, it is fantastic to start 2025 with another new business selecting Exchange Quay to accommodate its growth.”
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L-R: Geoff Clowes, GM Business Growth Hub, Loz O’Connor, Thanasis Michael
Michaels Coffee House has expanded, opening a second site in Manchester’s Arndale Centre. Run by entrepreneur Thanasis Michael, it has signed a 10-year lease to occupy a 544 sq ft unit on Halle Place.
Michaels Coffee House was established in August 2017 by Cypriot Thanasis Michael, who came to the UK in October 2013. After many setbacks, Thanasis worked in a variety of retail roles before becoming a barista at Starbucks in the Trafford Centre and in the Arndale Centre.
Thanasis was inspired to launch his own business, specialising in organically grown, high quality, locally roasted, single origin and Rainforest Alliance certified coffee beans, along with a variety of signature and unique beverages and coffees including its famous pistachio, hazelnut praline lattes and Spanish lattes.
Michaels Coffee House received investment from FW Capital through the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF I) in 2023 and is now seeing its growth plans come to fruition.
Thanasis Michael said: “We have experienced significant growth over the last year and worked hard to open our newest coffee house. It is in a great location in the Arndale Centre, and I feel like I’m coming back to my roots because I worked on this very site as a barista for Starbucks before setting up Michaels Coffee House.”
The team at FW Capital, represented by Loz O’Connor, Fund Manager and Mark Gardiner, Portfolio Executive, has worked closely with Thanasis Michael to help him realise his growth ambitions.
Loz O’Connor said: “Thanasis’ success story is one of grit and determination, showing what can be achieved when you set your mind to it.”
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Stock Lane Industrial Estate
Davies Harrison Real Estate has sold a 22,412 sq ft industrial estate in Chaderton, Oldham. on behalf of a private investor, for more than £2m.
The Stock Lane Industrial Estate, which comprises three detached buildings and three outbuildings as well as a private yard, was acquired by neighbouring operator, EC Creative Services.
Rick Davies, of Davies Harrison, said: “The demand for this property was extremely high with several strong offers, which highlights the demand for secondary freehold accommodation in the Greater Manchester area.
“Having successfully completed this deal quickly for our client, the volume of enquiries that we received, coupled with our insight in to this sector of the market, means that we are well positioned to identify future purchasers for similar opportunities.”
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Glasshouse
Automation and control supplier, Beckhoff UK, has expanded its coverage of the UK by opening a new office at Bruntwood SciTech’s innovation campus, Alderley Park, Cheshire.
The office, which will function as the company’s software centre, allows Beckhoff to more easily reach customers in the Midlands, North of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Beckhoff’s office will be based in Glasshouse, a vibrant workspace and technology hub at the heart of the park, where they will be able to work and collaborate alongside other innovative firms specialising in areas such as AI, fintech, and software development.
It will house a dedicated training centre where the company will run regular training sessions on its TwinCAT product range. The new office will also have several demonstration walls.
Beth Ragdale, Beckhoff UK product manager, said: “The North West is known for being a leader in some of Beckhoff’s core industries, like pharmaceuticals and processing, so it made perfect sense for us to have a physical presence here.
Mark Julian, Associate Director for Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund – said: “The Alderley Park ecosystem has been specifically tailored to support the growth and development of ambitious and innovative businesses like Beckhoff.”
