Property round-up: B&M takes on Bolton Focus unit; Three land at World Freight Terminal; and more

DISCOUNT retailer B&M Bargains has agreed a deal to lease a 31,000 sq ft former Focus DIY unit at Central Retail Park in Bolton.

B&M, which is a Liverpool-based business owned by the Arora family, had already taken over the leases of several Focus outlets in the wake of the Crewe-based DIY chain’s collapse 12 months ago.

Its latest deal is for a 15-year lease on the unit, which is the largest Central Retail Park. Other tenants include Brantano , Pets at Home, Maplin and Carpet Right.
Riddell TPS and Cheetham & Mortimer advised Zolfo Cooper, which is the administrator of the park’s former landlord, Trostre Retail.

Andy Crompton at Riddell TPS said: “B&M’s letting at Central Retail Park continues an emerging trend in the retail property market, with value stores remaining buoyant during challenging times for the high street.

“B&M continues to expand its portfolio of high street and retail park premises and this new store will offer an improved and larger retail offering than it has previously had in Bolton.”

The firm currently operates from around 280 stores and the Bolton outlet will open next month.

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MAG Developments, the commercial property arm of Manchester Airports Group, has completed three lettings at its 308 Avro Way office building within the World Freight Terminal (WFT) industrial estate at Manchester Airport.

Skymaster Air Cargo Ltd has taken an office of 349 sq ft, Future Forwarding Co has taken 935 sq ft and Barker & Hood Limited, has moved into a 322 sq ft suite.

The 24,000 sq ft office building was re-launched last summer following a £250,000 refurbishment to create smaller, flexible office suites aimed at SMEs and start-up businesses.

The building is now home to around 15 companies in total.

Richard McAuley, Manchester Airport estate manager for MAG Developments, said: “Since its relaunch, the new, on-airport, availability of smaller-sized quality office spaces has attracted strong interest, particularly from smaller businesses.

“The flexibility offered by the building is also proving to be attractive for our new occupiers, as having the option to expand within existing premises means they can grow without having to worry about future relocation costs.”

Space is offered on an all-inclusive psckage including rent, service charges, rates and insurance from £20 per sq ft.

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DUNLOP Heywood has been appointed by Peel Holdings (Land and Property) to let a number of industrial units and sites across the North West.

The Manchester-based firm has been instructed to sell five sites, including a 1.3-acre site at Barton Dock Road in Trafford Park which is directly opposite its Trafford Centre scheme. Another 1.6-acre site at Trafford Retail Park in Davyhulme is up for sale, alongside three Salford properties – a 3,100 sq ft industrial unit at Langworthy Enterprise Park, a 7,587 sq ft unit at the Washington Centre on Broadway and a 1,300 sq ft unit at Sundance Court.

Four units containing a total of 9,000 sq ft are alsoup for sale at The Bridgewater Centre on Robson Avenue in Trafford Park.

Steve Brittle, associate director at Dunlop Heywood, said: “Dunlop Heywood has taken many instructions from several divisions of The Peel Group over recent years and so we are delighted that Peel Holdings has, once again, appointed us to market these prime properties and sites on their behalf.

“We anticipate there will be keen interest on some of the sites due to their central or high-profile locations.”

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SANDERSON Weatherall has been instructed by the administrators of St Helens-based Royden Engineering to sell of its old site.

The company occupied a 38,333 sq ft warehouse, workshop and office building on a 1.45 acre site at Sandwash Close in Rainford, which has now been placed on the market with an asking price of £575,000.

Royden Engineering, which designed, fabricated and erected structural steelwork, entered administration in September 2010, with Matt Dunham and Les Ross from Grant Thornton’s restructuring team in Manchester appointed as joint administrators.

Rory Dillon, a surveyor of corporate services at the Manchester office of Sanderson Weatherall, said the site was suitable for reconfiguration into smaller industrial units or for engineering or storage purposes.

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MACCLESFIELD Town Hall has been reopened to the public following a £3m refurbishment.

The building, which was closed in September, has had a number of improvements aimed at improving accessibility. New lift access and disabled toilets have been created, while guest access wi-fi and a new glazed lobby area has also been added.

The council said that the aim of the refit was to encourage wider public and community use of the building, which will now be made available for conferences, theatre productions and weddings. This will have a knock-onm benefit for traders around Market Place.

The scheme did not run to schedule or budget, though with the council blaming “unforeseen issues” associated with historic buildings. Improvements to the building’s external fabric has now been taken out of the council’s capital maintenance budget.

Cllr Jamie Macrae, Cheshire East cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, said: “The refurbishment of the Town Hall restores this historic building to a condition that reflects its status.

“It is one of the most iconic buildings in Macclesfield and the refurbished Town Hall will supplement the town’s amenities and encourage wider public and community use – ensuring the Town Hall continues to play an important role at the heart of Macclesfield town centre, alongside other new investment and regeneration.”