Property briefs: Capital & Centric; Moorgarth; Merchant’s House

MANCHESTER property developer Capital & Centric is seeking a main contractor for its £6m speculative business park opposite Ordsall Hall in Salford.

The 45,000 sq ft development, dubbed Digital Village, will have 12 units aimed at digital and creative businesses.

The five-acre site, close to the Soapworks redevelopment of the former Colgate-Palmolive factory, is currently empty.

Drawings for the AEW-designed scheme show it will be divided by a public space running from Ordsall Lane to the Ship Canal where there will be a mooring for a planned water taxi service between Manchester and Salford Quays.

The construction contract will have a value of around £2.7m with a likely start on site around October 2014.

Co-founder Tim Heatley said: “As a Salford lad this project is close to my heart, I’m excited about people being able to get a water taxi to the City Centre or to MediaCity via our boulevard. This will be our 3rd project to commence construction this year, with two more speculative developments planned for later this year too. We’re encouraging main contractors to register their interest via Constructionline.”

::

PLANNING chiefs have given the go ahead for a £15m revamp of the Market Place Shopping Centre in Bolton.

Landlord Moorgarth bought the centre for around £20m from the administrators of previous owner Agora last year and wants to turn 25,000 sq ft of unused Victorian vaults into space for restaurants, bars and shops.

It has already signed up cinema operator The Light to run a nine-screen cinema at the scheme.

Moorgarth’s chief executive Tim Vaughan said: “We are thrilled with the outcome of the meeting and were delighted by the overwhelming support given by the planning committee. We will now start work on site within the next few weeks.”

::

STOCKPORT Council has refurbished the 200-year-old listed building, Merchants House.

The building, opposite the Market Hall, has 10 small offices suitable for between two and four people.

The building was originally occupied by the Post Office in 1820s and was the home of the Bank of Stockport in the 1850s.
 
Centre Manager Ken Hill said: “The atmosphere has been transformed and the whole place feels modern, lighter and brighter than it was before. Existing clients are delighted. The offices in Merchants House are ideal for small and new businesses looking for a central location that is something just that little bit different.”