Property round-up: Travelodge to open at Cheshire Oaks; Nando’s joins swarm at The Hive; and more
WORK has started on a hotel scheme which marks the final phase in the redevelopment of the Cheshire Oaks Coliseum Leisure Park.
PDR Construction moved in to Ellesmere Port’s Cheshire Oaks outlet village and leisure park this week to start work on a new five storey building, comprising hotel and commercial accommodation.
The £3m scheme involves the design and construction of a 77-bed Travelodge together with two ground floor retail units totalling around 7,000 sq ft.
The project is due for completion in the second quarter of 2012.
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RESTAURANT operator Nando’s has taken the final 3,880 sq ft unit at the The Hive leisure scheme in Widnes.
The £10m development, which was previously known as Venture Fields, is a joint venture between Halton Borough Council and St Modwen. Space has already been let for a five screen multiplex Reel Cinema, a 16-lane Widnes Superbowl centre, a 36,000 sq ft ice rink, a Frankie and Benny’s bar and restaurant and a 60-bedroom Premier Inn with Brewers Fayre pub/restaurant.
Halton Borough Council’s Leader Cllr Rob Polhill said: “The news is very much welcome for the borough and we believe that the restaurant will work really well alongside the existing businesses already confirmed for the site.
“This exciting development is regenerating a large part of the Widnes Waterfront and Nando’s will offer extra job opportunities for local people.”
Michael Hosie, development manager at St. Modwen said: “We are delighted that all units have been let to high calibre, exciting occupiers not previously represented in the town.”
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LAND Securities has signed up four new tenants to its Clayton Square shopping centre in Liverpool, who have taken a combined 7,500 sq ft of space.
The biggest letting has been to fashion and sportswear retail Madhouse, which has taken a 5,000 sq ft unit at the Church St entrance to the centre. Clothing retailer West Coast has taken 2,215 sq ft, occupying a unit between Clas Ohlson and Mothercare, while Clayton News and confectionery seller A Quarter of Sweets have taken space in Clayton Square at Charlotte St and Parker St respectively.
James Larmuth, Land Securities’ portfolio manager said: “The high street may be busy but every pound in the consumer purse has to work much harder. So we’re listening to our customers and working hand-in-hand with retailers to ensure we deliver the right deals to bring great value-for-money brands such as Madhouse and West Coast into the scheme.”
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LAW firm Kirwans Solicitors has taken 6,500 sq ft of office space at the South Harrington Building at Brunswick Business Park in Liverpool.
The deal, completed by Hitchcock Wright & Partners, was for a lease of 10 years at a rent of £11.50 per square foot.
South Harrington Building was formerly a Victorian dock warehouse restored in the 1980s by the Merseyside Development Corporation. A £1.5 million refurbishment of the building was also completed two years ago. Other lettings already made by the agents include Royal Mail, Vitaflo and digital marketing agency New Mind.
Nick Harrop, partner at agents Hitchcock Wright & Partners, said: “The building is now 83% occupied and since the refurbishment was completed by Commercial Estates Group, we continue to receive a great deal of interest in the last available units.”
Remaining units range in size from 916 sq ft to 9,746 sq ft. Matthews and Goodman are joint letting agents on the property.
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Law firm J B Leitch has opened its new office in Liverpool city centre after buying an additional 3,000 sq ft of lower ground floor office space next to its existing building at Kent St.
The firm, which specialises in the collection of ground rents and service charges, has also employed Snook Architects to oversee a major refurbishment of the space, which is within the city’s Ropewalks area.
The new offices have an impressive barrel vaulted ceiling and provide the firm with a reception area with street frontage and a meeting room with wireless internet access and catering facilities.
Jonathan Leitch, managing partner of the firm, said: “We now have 30 employees based at the new office and on top of the £250,000 investment in the refurbishment, we are also planning a further IT investment to ensure our IT infrastructure remains ahead of the field.”
JB Leitch currently employs around 55 employees and now has 7,000 sq ft of office space.
Hitchcock Wright were agents for the building.
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THE Triangle Shopping Centre has been chosen as the venue for this year’s Manchester Bridal Show.
The event, which will be held over the weekend of September 17 and 18, will be attended by around 40 specialist suppliers including Just Gorgeous Bridal, The Jewellery Cave and Swarbricks Menswear.
A number of The Triangle’s own stores, including Green & Benz, East, Bravissimo and Jigsaw, will also be participating.
The event is organised by Bliss Wedding Shows.
Holly Budgen, interim marketing manager at Triangle Shopping Centre, said: “This promises to be a wonderful weekend for both visitors and exhibitors. There has been heavy investment in promotion, both on-air and in print, and pre-registration levels already indicate an excellent turnout.”
