Property round-up: United Living; Sci-Tech Daresbury; Blackpool Council; Glenbrook Investments; Harrison Drury
United Living Property Services, a subsidiary of Warrington-based United Living Group (ULPS), has been awarded a £36m contract with SNG (Sovereign Network Group), a housing association that builds and maintains affordable homes across London and the South of England.
The five-year contract, valued at £7.2m per annum, will see ULPS provide responsive repairs and voids service for SNG in the East of England and North and East London part of their operation.
ULPS will be carrying out day-to-day responsive repairs, void repairs, and planned maintenance commencing in April 2025.
Tom Bullock, director of responsive services, United Living Property Services, said:
“Our dedicated in-house teams provide a one-stop service of essential repairs and ongoing maintenance to provide a clean, safe environment for all residents.”
Patrick Flynn, SNG property service director (London and East), said: “We are really pleased to be working with United Living Property Services to deliver a quality responsive repairs and voids service for customers in North and East London and the East of England.
“This new regional focus in our repairs delivery will ensure that we can deal with the number of repairs requests we receive from customers more efficiently.”
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Sarka O’Neill and Tom Brandwood of Traverse Automation
Science and innovation campus, Sci-Tech Daresbury, has strengthened its position as a hub for cutting-edge technology with the arrival of Money Carer, a national social enterprise and fintech pioneer, and Traverse Automation, an intelligent automation specialist.
Both companies have relocated to the campus’s Vanguard House, bringing their transformative technologies and growth strategies to this vibrant science and innovation ecosystem.
Money Carer is pioneering innovative financial management solutions for vulnerable individuals in the UK. To maximise their impact in the sector, the team partners with hundreds of local authorities, care providers, and law firms. Money Carer has also just opened its first office in Spain to provide its services to vulnerable members of the international expatriate community.
It has hired three new staff members since moving to Sci-Tech Daresbury.
CEO and founder, Sean Tyrer, said: “Our move to Sci-Tech Daresbury marks a significant milestone in our growth. We’re eager to leverage the campus’s extensive network and cutting edge facilities as we continue to develop technologies that make a tangible difference to our customers’ lives.”
Specialising in intelligent automation solutions for an array of industries, Traverse Automation brings nearly 30 staff to Sci-Tech Daresbury. The automation specialist is making its return to campus after a few years off-site.
John O’Neill, CEO and founder, said: “Sci-Tech Daresbury offers more than just a workspace – it’s a collaborative hub that fuels innovation.”
John Leake, business growth director at Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: “These companies embody the innovative spirit we nurture at Sci-Tech Daresbury – businesses that are not just growing but bringing innovative solutions to actively transform their industries.”
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(VisitBlackpool)
Last year, Blackpool Council was awarded £90m from the central government via Homes England to address the significant and longstanding issue of housing quality in the inner areas of Blackpool.
This funding will support a comprehensive central housing regeneration scheme aimed at transforming the area with modern, affordable housing and local amenities.
The ambitious regeneration programme will replace old, substandard housing with high quality, sustainable neighbourhoods that meet the diverse needs of the local community.
Over the next 15-20 years, this initiative will serve as a catalyst for attracting much needed private investment and development, fostering a vibrant and thriving community.
The council’s shareholder committee met earlier this month and approved the ‘red line’ area which includes more than 350 properties. The approval of the area now means that detailed engagement with residents and business occupiers within the identified area can begin.
Approval will also enable formal contact with owners of land and property within the area to start negotiations to buy land and property by agreement.
The committee approved that parts of Ashton Road, Central Drive, Chadwick Street, Erdington Road, Grasmere Road, Harrison Street, Kent Road, Montrose Avenue, Princess Street, Rigby Road, Rydal Avenue and Salthouse Avenue are all within the red line boundary.
Those that live or have businesses in the affected area have received a hand delivered letter letting them know they are in the area and providing information on next steps and contact details of engagement officers.
Initially there will be no immediate change, this is a long term regeneration scheme and the houses within the area will not be required immediately.
Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Being able to share the area we intend to direct the first phase of funding toward marks a significant milestone for Blackpool – and is important information for local residents, property and business owners who are well aware that there is a plan for investment and transformation in the area.
“We recognise that people who are finding out that their home or business is in the red line area will want further information about ‘what next’ and I want to reassure them personally that we are sharing this information as early as we are able and in doing so, are able to say to people that nothing will change in the coming weeks and even months, this is the very start of our work to explore buying properties in the area by consent.
“Our team have invited those that are directly affected to drop in events to talk through any anxieties they may have. Where we can’t answer a question on the day, we will ensure people get an answer as soon as possible.”
A planning application is expected this summer.
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Florida Road, Haydock Industrial Estate
Glenbrook Investments has completed the acquisition of North and South Buildings on Haydock Industrial Estate from Coral Products, in a deal worth £1.7m.
Located on North Florida Road, the units comprise a total of 20,100 sq ft industrial accommodation. As part of the deal, the two units were leased back to Film & Foil Solutions on unbroken 15-year FRI leases at £155,000 per annum with RPI rent reviews.
Haydock Industrial Estate is an established industrial location with a strategic location on the A580, near the M6 and M62. Its excellent connectivity has proven to be popular with major occupiers including Amazon, Booker, Costco, Kellogg’s and Sainsbury’s.
It is also a location that Glenbrook knows well, having previously completed a transaction with Coral Products following the successful acquisition of its headquarters building on North Florida Road in Haydock in a sale and leaseback transaction in 2021. That building was subsequently sold to Schroders REIT.
Scott Griffiths, investment director at Glenbrook, said: “It is great to transact again with Coral Products.
“The rarity of securing small industrial units in this location, coupled with it being the perfect base to support the tenant’s growth ambitions, led to the agreement of a long term, index-linked lease commitment and parent guarantee.”
OBI advised Coral Products.
Lucy Murphy and Matt Barnes at CMS represented Glenbrook Investments.
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Harrison Drury team
North West law firm, Harrison Drury, has moved to a new office in Manchester following rapid growth in its client base and staff numbers – just over 14-months on from first opening its doors in the city.
The firm has taken around 3,500 sq ft of space on the fifth floor of the Cornerblock building, where Quay Street meets Deansgate, after rapidly outgrowing its previous offices within the Tootal Buildings near Oxford Road.
It comes as the firm’s headcount in Manchester has grown from two to 24 since the firm opened the office led by former TLT Corporate partners, Rick Life and Mark Traynor, in January 2024.
It has quickly grown its service offering through a programme of lateral hires, and now has senior lawyers in corporate, commercial and intellectual property, commercial property, construction, employment, insolvency and restructuring, family law and private client.
Rick Life, partner and head of Harrison Drury’s Manchester office, said: “It’s been a momentous year for the whole firm and the reception we’ve had in Manchester from clients and the professional community has been incredible.
“Our growth strategy is all about people and we’ve been able to attract some exceptional talent with lots of experience and specialism to come and join us, with some more key hires due to join us, too.”
Partner, Mark Traynor, head of the firm’s corporate team, said: “Our new office offers us an inspiring space in a great location, providing us with the capacity to further grow our team and stay close to our clients and contacts. The move highlights our long term commitment to this thriving city and provides us with a space we can be proud of.”
Recent appointments in Manchester include corporate senior associate, Jennifer Murphy, insolvency partner, Heather Morris, and partner, Rory O’Hare, who heads up the firm’s commercial and intellectual property team.
These appointments followed a flurry of senior hires in 2024, including corporate partner, Hayley Goodwin, employment partner, Emma Butterworth, and construction partner, David Vayro.
