Ford mulls 60,000 sq ft at First Street

FORD is said to close to agreeing a deal for 60,000 sq ft at Ask Developments’ First Street office block.

Its motor credit arm is understood to be in advanced talks with the developer and wants to use the space as a European headquarters.

The requirement has previously been shrouded in secrecy and referred to as Project Bluefin.

Ask has just announced a 60,000 sq ft deal with the Autotrader publisher Trader Media which plans to move 600 staff from a collection of seven North West offices to the site.

A deal with Ford would leave the 180,000 sq ft building fully let and cap a successful six months for Ask which signed up the US engineering group Jacobs to 23,500 sq ft in August. PR and marketing firm Amaze is also a tenant.

CBRE and Savills are letting agents. All parties declined to comment.