Property round-up: DV8 Designs, Opus North, Sheila Bird Group
WARRINGTON Borough Council has appointed architectural firm DV8 Designs to prepare a draft master-plan for the Garvin Place and former Cabinet Works areas of the town centre.
The areas are currently unused but the aim is for a mixed-use development including residential, retail, leisure and hotel space.
Planners are also keen to encourage small businesses to settle in the area which will be developed around a public square.
Steve Park, managing director of Warrington & Co, the town’s economic development agency: “This is an exciting opportunity to realise the full potential that these sites offer. Key to the scheme will be the production of a masterplan, an analysis of connectivity, a conservation plan and the preservation of the landmark tower at the former Garnett’s cabinet work factory.”
Director Lee Birchall of DV8 Designs said: “We are very proud to be working with Warrington & Co. to investigate the potential of this area. I am a Warringtonian born, bred and passionate about my town. My colleagues similarly all live locally and our business is based here. We have the advantage of being able to add our depth of local knowledge, enthusiasm and passion into the commission.”
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OPUS North has completed six new deals at The Exchange in Chester city centre.
The 60,000 sq ft Exchange, which was previously occupied by British Telecom, is situated in St John’s Street.
The Grade A, three-storey office building is nearly fully let, with just two small 600 sq ft suites available.
The new tenants are: Advanced Recruitment (2,260 sq ft), Optical Express has taken (1,740 sq ft); Exchequer Solutions (3,690 sq ft); civil engineers Ramboll (8,218 sq ft); recruitment company Avanta (4,200 sq ft) and Axis Recruitment (3,390 sq ft).
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INTERIOR design practice, the Sheila Bird Group, has been appointed to 40 Spring Gardens in Manchester by landlord Climate Change Capital.
Atul Bansal of Sheila Bird Group said: “40 Spring Gardens is one of Manchester’s finest office buildings, offering some of the most interesting Grade A space in the city.
“We are reinvigorating the building and installing a number of spaces that will help occupiers to really understand the opportunity that this building can offer their business. The corporate office space is fast-evolving beyond just the ‘ticking the box process’.
“The way we work is changing fast. Incorporating ‘the technology shift’ in the workplace will provide the freedom that is needed and demanded by staff. By breaking a few rules, or should I say habits, we are going to show what can be done to the spaces that we spend most of our time in.”
Esme Lowe, co-founder at Climate Change Capital, said: “The appointment of Atul and the Sheila Bird team is a key part of our marketing strategy and the repositioning of 40 Spring Gardens. We are enhancing the building and understand that corporate occupiers have a need for interesting and collaborative spaces within the workplace. We are confident that these works will enrich 40 Spring Garden’s unrivalled Grade A accommodation and look forward to announcing new letting deals shortly.”
