Property round-up: Blackpool Yates’s site to be transformed; Countryside releases more Mann Island apartments; and more
PLANNING consultant GL Hearn has secured consent to transform the former Yates’s Wine Lodge at Talbot Square in Blackpool into a new mixed-use development containing a TGI Friday and Cosmo Buffet restaurant.
The 25,000 sq ft property will be redeveloped into three separate units – two at ground floor with new mezzanine levels and one on the upper floor offering views of Blackpool’s promenade.
The building, which was damaged by a fire in 2009, is being redeveloped by Northhold Group.
Paul Entwistle of GL Hearn said: “This was a particularly sensitive project as the site is located within a conservation area and there are a number of listed buildings in the vicinity that required consideration when developing the plans.
“Northhold’s proposals respond to the demand from local residents and visitors to create a vibrant leisure destination for the town.
“We are delighted to have been able to secure planning consent for a development which will see an iconic and prominent town centre site brought back to use.”
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THE second building of apartments at Mann Island is about to be released to the market ahead of schedule.
The second of the wedge-shaped buildings known as Longitude will have a range of apartments on offer, with one-bed apartments starting from £120,000 or one-bed penthouses with terraces from £150,000.
Mann Island is a joint venture between Liverpool-based Neptune Developments and Countryside Properties. The latter has been responsible for developing the residential element of the scheme and said the launch of Longitude has been brought forward following a successful sales push at the first building to be released, which was Latitude.
The apartments are on Liverpool’s World Heritage Status waterfront and offer views of the river, Albert Dock and the Three Graces.
Countryside’s regional sales director Peter Vella said: “We have been blown away by the interest shown in the apartments in Latitude, and there is no reason why Longitude should be any less popular.
“When we started marketing Latitude very little of the surrounding area on Mann Island was completed, but now it’s becoming a thriving destination in its own right.”
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HENDERSON Global Investors has let a 13,000 unit at Chesford Grange in Warrington to healthcare equipment manufacturer Sidhil.
Chesford Grange is located next to J21 of the M6 motorway. It is held by 
Henderson in its £165m UK Property Fund, and Sidhil has taken the space on a new 10-year lease.
CBRE advised Henderson on the letting. Senior surveyor Darren Hill said: “It is encouraging to see inward investment into the North West.
“Sidhil’s decision to acquire space in Warrington in addition to its HQ in Halifax underlines the strength of the location, which despite the tough market continues to attract businesses.”
Two units remain at Chesford Grange containing up to 22,000 sq ft.
CBRE acted as joint agent alongside Savills.
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COLLIERS International and Warrington-based property agency Eileen Bilton Partnership have jointly let the 3,711 sq ft Unit 17 at Rufford Court in Warrington, to Indulge Retail on behalf of landlord Peter Stevens Estates.
