Property briefs: Harrison Pitt Architects; Salford Innovation Park; New Charter
LANCASTER-based Harrison Pitt Architects has designed two new facilities for Victrex, the high performance polymer manufacturer.
Building work has started on the new workshop and amenities building and a control centre for the company, which employs over 650 staff and has its global headquarters at Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire.
The project is part of Victrex’s current development for a third PEEK polymer plant, which is due to start commissioning in early 2015. Harrison Pitt has previously designed the Victrex Technology Centre HQ building, completed in 2012, and extensions to two of its laboratory and manufacturing buildings on the same site.
Architect Richard Parker said: “Victrex is a world class business which invests millions of pounds in innovation, research and development each year to be a global leader in its field. It is vital for businesses like Victrex to have the very best facilities and we are incredibly pleased to have been selected once again to deliver such a vital project. Our experience in designing industrial buildings continues to grow and we are picking up more and more work in this sector across the UK.”
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EDWARDS & Co and Knight Frank have been appointed as joint agents for Salford Innovation Park.
The 120,000 sq ft site, on Frederick Road next to the university, is part of Manchester Science Parks and has self-contained offices and light industrial workspace ranging in size from 100 to 10,000 sq ft.
Thomas Renn, commercial manager for Manchester Science Parks, said: “We’re starting to see stronger demand for space at the park recently and across the board in our regional markets as we leave the effects of the economic downturn behind us. We’ve appointed Knight Frank and Edwards & Co as they both have a strong presence in Greater Manchester and a great track record of attracting businesses looking for great value office space and structured business support.
“With deals completed and currently instructed, we’ve seen vacancy drop 10% in the last 6 months alone as companies move in to take advantage of the growing business community here.”
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UP to 4,500 homes in Tameside, Greater Manchester will be fitted with solar panels by housing association New Charter Homes.
It said the move would cut carbon emissions and save tenants around £40m in reduced electricity bills over 25 years.
Chief executive Ian Munro said: “Our tenants will benefit massively from cheaper fuel bills provided by the technology while reducing our carbon footprint considerably. We’ve been in talks to fit solar panels to homes for a while now so it’s good to see the work start, we are also looking at the possibilities of rolling out the scheme to our homes in Oldham and Nottingham with partners Aksa Homes and Gedling Homes.
“While this technology will help a large number of our tenants, we know that not all homes will be suitable, so we’re looking at other energy saving possibilities for those homes not suitable for solar panels.”
