Building briefs: Primark moves in at The Mall Blackburn; Liverpool’s Yorkshire House at 70% occupancy; and more…
PRIMARK, the anchor tenant of the £66m redevelopment of The Mall Blackburn, has received the keys to its new, 50,000 sq ft store.
Work has already started on the internal fit out of the two-storey unit, which sits on the corner of Ainsworth Street and Church Street and from the inside, occupies prime position in the newly created Lord Square atrium.
Next, has taken a 15,000 sq ft, double storey unit in the scheme, and will sit next to Primark. Contractors handed over the unit earlier this week and retail fit out will commence shortly.
Ronnie MacLean, Capital and Regional’s consultant development manager, said: “This marks a major milestone in the build programme so far. Over the course of the next few weeks and months, we will hand over possession to New Look and WHSmith for them to commence retail fit out.”
Work is continuing on the Lord Street Mall, which has12 new double storey units, and has a glazed rooflight running the entire length of the Mall. A glass and chrome feature staircase, the centre piece of the Lord Square atrium, is due for installation in May.
Once complete, the scheme will see overall retail space increase to 650,000sq ft, creating 20 new shops, a 68,000 sq ft, state-of-the-art continental style market and over 300 new car parking spaces, creating 1,400 in total.
::
YORKSHIRE House on Chapel Street in Liverpool has secured two new tenancies – taking overall occupancy of the building to 70%.
Developer Denzien Contracts has taken half a floor and existing tenants JAK Taverns have agreed to take further space within the building.
Built in 1926, the limestone building, originally the headquarters of the Yorkshire Building Society, had been unoccupied for some years until it was acquired in 2006 by Chapel Street LLP. The partnership, comprising of Arrowcroft, Faircroft and Ethel Austin Properties, refurbished the property to created24,411 sq ft of office space.
Simon Jones, North West director of Faircroft said: “We are delighted with the success the building has had in securing tenants in what is a testing economic climate but this has been achieved as a result of the high quality of building and facilities such as underground car parking.”
Mason Owen and CBRE are joint letting agents.
::
RUSSELLS Construction has let three more units at its Prospect Industrial Centre in Hindley, Wigan.
Following a £100,000 refurbishment of the nine-unit block, eight companies have now moved to the premises on Platt Lane, leaving only one unit 4,795 sq ft remaining available for rent.
The trio of recent lettings include tenants Oxyplast, Freeway Autos and Diamond Wedding Cars. They join current tenants Ace Powder Coating, All Clear Glass, A&P Windows, Leisure Tech and Bright Electrical Supplies.
Andrea Littler of Business Space Solutions, the managing and letting agent which is marketing the development on behalf of Russells, said: “The development has proved to be particularly popular with local firms because it is hugely cost-competitive and offers a very good standard of accommodation without the premium price tag.”
::
BRUNTWOOD has pre-let 80% of office space at Sale Point on Washway Road in Sale, three months before refurbishment works at the building are due to complete.
Debt management company Harrington Brooks has taken 16,375 sq ft and housing charity, Trafford Housing Trust has taken 21,110 sq ft.
Andrew Butterworth, sales director at Bruntwood, said: “We are delighted to welcome these new customers. These deals truly reflect the high quality and cost effectiveness of the space available and our ability to successfully accommodate business specific requirements.”
::
MORE than 50 of Manchester’s office agency fraternity joined Orbit Developments for its to showcase of the refurbishment of the third floor at 55 King Street, this week.
The Grade A office building has had the third floor, which totals 10,860 sq ft, reinstated to open plan with LG7 lighting and full redecoration.
Philip Meakin, partner at P3 Property Consultants, said: “There is a limited supply of large quality floor plates in the prime core and having seen the third floor refurbishment at 55 King Street, I know it will undoubtedly carry favour with occupiers, at what is still considered to be one of the best addresses in town.”
The third floor at 55 King Street has a rate of £22 per sq ft.
King Sturge and Edwards & Co are the retained agents for 55 King Street.
