Property round-up: Major gym planned for Innovation Park; paper merchant buys Knowsley unit; and more

SPACE North West, the joint venture between Ashtenne Industrial Fund and the Homes and Communities Agency, has been granted planning approval for an 18,000 sq ft Ben Dunne Gym at Liverpool Innovation Park.

Work is set to begin on the gym this month, which will be the operator’s second outlet in the North West. The first is based at Switch Island.

Wayne Locke, director at Space North West, said: “This is fantastic news for the park. Securing planning approval for this facility is another step forward in creating improved facilities for our occupiers and for the local area.

“The gym will also utilise a substantial area of space on the ground floor, helping to secure the future of the park.”

Ben Dunne of Ben Dunne Gyms said: “Liverpool Innovation Park is the perfect location for us. With a floorspace of 18,000 sq ft and free onsite parking, we will have plenty of room to provide a full range of facilities.”

Liverpool Innovation Park is part-funded by the European Regional Development Agency (ERDF).

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CADDICK Developments has sold a unit at Penrhyn Court on Knowsley Business Park to paper merchant Paper 4 Print.

The company has bought the 12,155 sq ft Unit 2 (left), which includes car parking spaces and a large concrete yard, for an undisclosed sum.

Penrhyn Court is based just south of the A580 East Lancs road, and is close to junctions 4 and 5 of the M57 motorway.

Jonathan Lowe of GVA, which acted on behalf of the landlord, said: “We are delighted Paper 4 Print has chosen Penrhyn Court, re-confirming our belief that it remains the premier industrial business park within Merseyside.”

CBRE is joint agent on the scheme.

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CONLON Construction has picked up two prizes for Lancashire projects at the Local Authority Building Control North West regional Building Excellence awards.

The firm picked up the best community building award for the £4m MyPlace youth hub in Blackpool and was commended in the best education development category for the £5.5m Trinity School in Buckshaw Village, Chorley.

Director Michael Conlon, said: “These are two of our flagship projects and to have received not one, but two awards is excellent.

“They are both visually-stunning buildings that provide excellent facilities for local communities and we hope young people will be enjoying the spaces for many years to come.”

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CLAREMONT Group Interiors has completed the design and fit-out of Aegis Global’s first UK contact centre.

The firm handled space planning, interior design, fit-out, audio-visual installations and furniture sourcing for the 18,000 sq ft of space that India-based Aegis Global has taken on the ninth and 11th floor at Bruntwood’s City Tower scheme in Manchester.

The new office provides space for 250 staff, representing the first phase of Aegis’s Manchester centre. A further 17,000 sq ft on the 12th and 13th floors is also currently undergoing a fit-out.

Sudhir Agarwal, president of Aegis Global said: “We’re asking our clients to use our facilities and staff as an extension of their team so it’s important that we mirror the facilities and spaces they occupy. 

“This new office has far exceeded our hopes – it really is a world class-facility for Aegis Global.

Tim Frankland, joint managing director of Warrington-based Claremont said: “Aegis’ arrival is a real success story for Manchester in terms of outward inward investment and job creation.

“This has been one of our most notable projects of the last six months and we’ve delighted to have helped Aegis establish its first presence in the UK.”