Lettings: Manchester Green; 4M; Wilmslow Park and more

ITALIAN pharmaceutical firm Chiesi has taken an 18,640 sq ft building at Barwood’s Manchester Green business park close to the airport.

The business is moving its UK headquarters from Cheadle Royal to Manchester Green’s building five next year.

Barwood acquired the 104,000 sq ft Styal Road site, previously known as Greencourts, from Standard Life last year.

It has just completed a full refurb of building five and is planning a similar treatment for two other blocks. Other tenants include Capita and Ingredion.

Andrew Dickman of Barwood said: “We are delighted with the letting to Chiesi which reaffirms the underlying benefits of the scheme and its location and rewards the confidence shown by Barwood in speculatively refurbishing and remodelling this office park to place it at the forefront of the South Manchester office market.”

Canning O’Neill acted for Barwood while JLL advised Chiesi.

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CONSUMER goods group PZ Cussons has agreed a five-year deal to take 6,000 sq ft at 4M, a grade A office building in Chicago Avenue, at Manchester Airport.

The stock market-listed group has its headquarters at the nearby Aviator Way.

PZ Cussons, whose brands include Imperial Leather, Carex, and Original Source, has taken the new office for a “crucial business improvement project” focused on international trade.

Manchester Airports Group Property’s divisional chief executive Lynda Shillaw said: “Enquiries have increased four-fold since the announcement that the new Metrolink line to Airport City will launch early, providing us with greater connections to more people across Greater Manchester, especially areas such as Salford, Bury and Oldham.

“PZ Cussons is a great international business that requires direct access to international and regional transport links. Its decision to bring together the international project team at Airport City campus demonstrates the high calibre of occupier the new development is proving attractive to, and we are delighted we could help PZ Cussons cement its presence in the region.”

CBRE and WHR are joint letting agents for 4M.

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REGIONAL Property Solutions has been appointed to manage the Burtonwood Industrial Centre, Phipps Lane, Warrington by the freeholder London Properties.

The estate has 32 units totalling 135,000 sq ft ranging from 600–10,000 sq ft. It is fully let to tenants on 125-year leases with vegetable processor James Abbey the largest occupier.

Charles Murray, managing director, of Altrincham-based Regional Property Solutions said: “We believe that the continuing growth of our commercial property management business is down to our overall approach, which is both proactive and personal to ensure the smooth running of the buildings and estates under our umbrella. This addition to our mixed portfolio brings the total to 66 properties with a growing rent roll in excess of £7m.

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POUNDLAND has taken a 10-year lease on a 4,400 sq ft unit at Wilmslow Park in Rusholme.

The former Opal student accommodation block, now owned by Campus Living Villages, has a number of ground floor retail units currently let to Caffè Nero, Superdrug, Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl.

Asset manager Legal & General Property was represented by international real estate advisor Savills.

John Agnew, director of retail at Savills, said: “We are pleased to have secured a letting to this popular national retailer on behalf of  Legal & General Property. Poundland will further strengthen the retail offer in this high footfall location near to Manchester’s university and hospitals.”