Property news: Muse sells in Cheadle; Surf Snowdonia; GVA moves in

MUSE Developments has sold the last unit at its Oakfield 3 development at Cheadle Royal Business Park.  
 
The 9,739 sq ft office building has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by fertility clinic Manchester Fertility. It is relocating from the Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester.
 
David Burkinshaw, development director at Muse, said: “We are delighted to welcome Manchester Fertility as the latest occupier to Oakfield 3, Cheadle Royal. With the first three phases of Oakfield now fully occupied, we look forward to delivering the fourth and final phase of this ever-popular development.”
 
Debbie Falconer, lead embryologist and operations director of Manchester Fertility, said: “The relocation to our new facility at Cheadle Royal is the start of a new era for Manchester Fertility. We’ve been at the forefront of fertility treatment in the North West for over 26 years, helping people to become families from across the region and beyond. Over 4,000 Manchester Fertility babies have been born to date.”

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ALTRINCHAM-based Planit Intelligent Environments has designed the masterplan for an inland “surf lake” in Snowdonia.

Plans for the scheme, called Surf Snowdonia, were submitted last week by Conwy Adventure Leisure, part of the Wigan-based Ainscough Group.

If approved it will be based on a 40-acre site at the former Dolgarrog Aluminium Works which closed in 2007.

CAL say the “wavegarden” – which will create two-metre high waves – will be the first in the UK, and possibly the world. They expect to attract 70,000 visitors a year and create 100 jobs.

CAL’s managing director Steve Davies said: “We’ve done our homework and we think this facility will attract up to 75,000 visitors a year and not just surfers but family visitors.  

“Surfing is already a cold water sport so we’re not trying to turn Dolgarrog into Hawaii. Currently surfers wearing wetsuits chase waves, which may or may not come, but at Surf Snowdonia we’ll generate 6ft, consistent waves, so the customer gets want they want.”

Pete Swift, director of Planit-IE, said: “Steve, Andy and Martin at Ainscough have real vision and genuine passion for the project, yet every decision we have made is grounded in commercial reality. The sensitive setting, close to the Snowdonia National Park boundary, makes the landscape-led approach the obvious way forward.

“The project has come together relatively quickly, yet we have been looking at options for the site for over three years. The introduction of wavegarden to the equation was a game-changer, as it will be for Dolgarrog and North Wales. This is not a cheap and cheerful water park, it is a world-class surfing facility, able to generate the perfect two-metre high wave, day in day out, all year round.  It will cater for beginners and experts alike.  We have some exciting projects on the books – but this is by far the most exciting and in closest harmony with our core values.”

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PROPERTY agent GVA has relocated its 150-strong Manchester team to offices at Prupim’s Norfolk House close to Market Street.

It signed a 10-year lease on 15,750 sq ft last November.

The company was spread across four floors at 81 Fountain Street, its home for the last 15 years. 

Mark Rawstron, regional senior director at GVA, said: “Since announcing our office relocation in November last year, we have welcomed 21 new recruits to teams across our multi-disciplinary office. It is testament to the quality and flexibility of space at Norfolk House that we have been able to relocate our entire office whilst accommodating these growing teams and ensuring all fee earning staff are based across one floor.

“Norfolk House meets both our specific occupational requirements, and our desire to remain within the city’s prime commercial core. The quality of the refurbishment within the building offers us a platform to create what we believe will be one of the best working environments within the city.
 
“The move very much reflects our non-ego driven approach to business and means that our operating costs will not increase. Something we consider to be a first rate achievement in the current climate.”