Property round-up: Paragon completes £1.1m social housing HQ; Peel predicts return of Manchester resi market; and more

PARAGON Interiors Group has completed the £1.1m fit-out of a new headquarters building in St Helens for social housing provider Helena Partnerships.

The company landed the contract through a competitive tender in April this year and began work on the 23,000 sq ft space in August, with work completing last month.

The building provides new facilities for staff as well as meeting space for local community groups.

Mike McKeown, sales director at Paragon Interiors, said: “We have really enjoyed working with Helena and Savills on this project as we were able to demonstrate our ability to maximise space with innovative designs, while delivering varying needs to a specific budget.  

“Completing the project in only eight weeks has allowed staff to move in with minimal disruption and provide a much-needed facility for local groups to meet.

Steve Moore, executive director of business development at Helena Partnerships said: “We wanted our new office and customer service centre, Helena Central, to make a real statement about our organisation and brand.

“Paragon’s creative approach has certainly brought this aspiration to life through a bold design and innovative layout.”

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THE Manchester residential office of Jones Lang LaSalle completed 206 rentals in Central Manchester in the four months from June through to the end of September.

The firm said that new stock offered by Peel Group both at MediaCity:UK and its Eastbank scheme in Ancoats had proved popular, with more than 80 units let between the sites on behalf of investors.

Stephen Hogg, director at Jones Lang LaSalle, said: “This summer has been particularly busy for rentals.

“With reduced stock available, it really was a great time to own a property for rent in Manchester. Our rental figures suggest that over 2,500 rentals were completed in Manchester city centre in just four months.

“In terms of capital uplift, we saw an average increase in value of 12% on most rental stock with some units going as high as 30% compared to last year.”

The average two-bed apartment in central Manchester was marketed at £850 per month in June, with that price increasing to £1,200 per month at the end of September.

James Whittaker, development director at Peel, said: “Both developments offer great investment opportunities that attract a variety of occupiers due to the high quality of the apartments.

“Alongside a thriving student community, the arrival of the BBC and ITV to MediaCityUK means there is also an additional influx of media professionals looking to rent in and around the City.

“Over the last few months we have witnessed substantial rental growth at both developments driven by basic economics of significant demand and short supply.”

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MANCHESTER United has appointed Nolan Redshaw to act as letting agents on its Trafford Park portfolio of properties recently acquired from Segro.

The industrial units close to Old Trafford Stadium, are known as Canalside and comprise an estate of eight industrial units, ranging in size from from 5,144 sq ft to 10,568 sq ft.

The instruction follows on from the recent letting at Stadium Point which, at 87,000 sq ft, was the largest letting within Trafford Park so far this year. Bury-based Nolan Redshaw has also been appointed on the 26-acre Manchester International Freight Terminal owned by the club.

Paul Nolan, director and head of agency at Nolan Redshaw, said: “We’re extremely pleased to have been appointed as joint agents, by such a high profile client.  We have enjoyed working with the club so far and hope to continue to achieve excellent results on their behalf.”

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FIT-out company OPL Group has completed a new £600,000 training centre in Cheshire for truck maker Iveco.

The 12-week project saw Iveco’s 20,000 sq ft, 1960s warehouse extended and refurbished to provide space for a new training centre, which includes including training bays and classrooms.

The building’s reception area has also been fitted using glossy black colouring to replicate a truck radiator as the desk with black lights suspended above.

Simon Clark, commercial manager at OPL Group, said: “We are extremely proud to be working with such a prestigious company. The task of producing a new training centre was an opportunity to emphasise Iveco’s branding and illustrate its professionalism and innovative approach.”

A GRADE II-listed former church in Higher Broughton could be converted into a new culture-led community centre after winning cash to bid for a large grant the Heritage Lottery Fund.

St Johns Church, which was designed by Houses of Parliament architect AWM Pugin, is looking for £931,000 of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and has been awarded £61,000 in first-round funding to prepare its bid.

The total cost of the restoration project is estimated at between £1.5m-£1.9m. The building will house creative clubs, workshops, arts classes and other activities for residents of east Salford. An “enterprise hub” will also offer low-cost space for local cultural organisations.

The scheme will be known as The Hive at St Johns and will need to raise match funding from corporate partners and sponsors before it wins second-round funding next year.

Sarie Mairs Slee, founding trustee of The Hive at St Johns and senior lecturer in physical and dance theatre at the University of Salford, said:” We are thrilled that the Heritage Lottery Fund have agreed our much anticipated funding and that we now can move forward with this exciting and unique project.

“We can begin work on preserving the old St Johns Church, an amazing piece of local history and architecture, whilst breathing new life into it as a community arts facility. The team at The Hive at St Johns will not only work hard to bring new and accessible arts and cultural opportunities to Broughton, but also in providing a space for the community to learn, work and enjoy cultural activities together.”

Sara Hilton, North West head of Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “We at the Heritage Lottery Fund are pleased to support The Hive at St Johns and bring their vision for this important historic building a step closer to reality.”

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TOOL Station has become the latest trade outlet to take space at Magnum Trade Park on Fishwick Street in Rochdale.

The firm took a 5,500 sq ft unit on a ten-year lease, which opened last month. It joins Edmundsons Electrical, Dulux, Crown and Screwfix on the site, which has one unit remaining.

Philip MacLauchlan of Adept Consultancy acted for Toolstation. He said: “Toolstation are always on the lookout for well-designed, modern sites. 

“Magnum offers plenty of parking and complimentary occupiers on the site, ensuring a readymade flow of traffic.  This is the opening of the 99th Toolstation location and it has already got off to a good start”.

Magnum Trade Park has been developed by local property firm, Beva. It was advised by GVA and Morris Dean.

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PLANNING consultant, GL Hearn has secured planning permission for a mixed-use development on Crumpsall Lane, North Manchester, on behalf of Rye Bank Homes.

Part of the site, which is next to Crumpsall Metrolink station, was formerly occupied by a cycle shop, while the remainder of the land was overgrown and disused.

The new development will comprise a 375sq metre. single storey retail unit with four two bed apartments above.

Phil Robinson, senior planner, GL Hearn, said: “The site is located close to North Manchester General Hospital and would make ideal accommodation for medical students.”

Tony Ginty from Rye Bank Homes commented “this site has been vacant for some years now and GL Hearn have enabled us to secure a viable mixed use development for the site. We have already lined Spar up for the ground floor retail unit and are hoping to start construction early in the new year”,