Property briefs: Wayfarers Arcade; Altrincham; BDO & more

CBRE has been appointed to manage the Grade II listed Wayfarers Shopping Arcade on Southport’s famous Lord Street boulevard.

The Manchester-based company’s asset services team has been instructed by Lord Street  Properties (Southport) to administer the facility.

The arcade boasts two retail trading levels and a management office on the second floor. There are  27 units on ground level and a further nine on the first floor, which along with Beales Department Store , totals about 75,000sq ft.

More than 30 shops feature in the Arcade, including Rohan and Multi York. The remainder of traders are local speciality businesses covering a range of non-competing offers all combining to serve as individual points of interest.

Sophie Weinmann, Associate Director at CBRE said: “Lord Street Properties is a family business, now in their third generation of involvement with the Arcade and have a very close relationship with both the occupiers and customers of the Arcade.  

“We look forward to working closely with the Arcade’s existing team to further promote the benefits of this prestigious building.”

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A PROPERTY in the heart of the Cheshire town of Altrincham has attracted two new occupiers.

Altrincham Drive-In Cleaners has taken the lower ground floor office, comprising 150sq ft (for business administration) at Grosvenor House, 22 Grafton Street, moving from 55 Borough Road in the town.

Marketing agency Sunny Thinking has taken a ground floor space of 160sq ft.

Both the offices have been let for 12 months on an all-inclusive basis at rental in excess of £30 per sq ft.

Regional Property Solutions acted on behalf of itself as the landlord. The tenants were unrepresented.

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BDO has renewed its lease at Temple Square in Liverpool for another 10 years, following a sustained period of growth and investment.

The accountancy and business advisory firm says it continues to attract top talent in Merseyside from big four firms with a focus on manufacturing, real estate and construction, and the not-for-profit sectors.

It also sees graduates and school leavers as an increasingly important part of developing its talent pipeline.

Brian Ricketts, partner at BDO in Liverpool, said: “The breadth of industry experience we now have in Liverpool is second-to-none, and we’ll be looking to keep developing this throughout the year.

“As well as welcoming highly skilled experienced people, we’re also committed to supporting young people in the area and helping to develop the leaders of tomorrow.”

The 5,000sq ft office currently employs 12 school leavers and graduate trainees across its tax, audit and business advisory streams, with a further four trainees joining the firm in the summer.

Rickitts added: “Much like our clients, our sights are always firmly set on growth.  The market is continuing to pick up and it’s important that Liverpool’s best businesses have the local expertise on their doorstep.

“We’re delighted to have extended our stay at Temple Square to accommodate our expanding team.”

BDO has offices in Liverpool and Manchester, employing almost 300 people across its audit, tax and advisory (including corporate finance, forensic accounting and business restructuring) services in the North West.

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CHESHIRE West and Chester Council has appointed regeneration specialist Nexus Planning to deliver a masterplan for the remodelling of Winsford town centre.

Nexus, which has offices in Manchester and London, has been asked to identify a series of private and public development opportunities, focusing on improving access for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

It will also investigate ways of enhancing the existing townscape, green spaces and leisure areas.

The Development Framework for Winsford town centre will be used in conjunction with the Winsford Neighbourhood Plan, adopted in November 2014 following a public referendum.

Senior planner at Nexus, Damien Cutting, said: “Winsford has significant potential to make a greater contribution to the economic and social well-being of mid Cheshire.

“This is an exciting opportunity to rejuvenate the area and set out clear priorities for how best to improve the town over the next few years.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s executive member for growth and innovation, Cllr Lynda Jones, said: “The Development Framework and the Transport Strategy will be ambitious and innovative blueprints that will complement one another to guide the future economic prosperity of Winsford.

“The two strategies will act as ‘toolkits’ for Cheshire West and Chester Council and Winsford Town Council, working with local residents, to drive forward the regeneration and revitalisation of the town.”

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A NEW housing group with a commitment to bringing affordable homes and job opportunities to the North West has opened its doors.
 
The Torus Group says it combines the strength, skills, local knowledge and strategic intent of two well established housing associations, St Helens-based Helena Partnerships  and Golden Gates Housing Trust in Warrington.
 
The firm says it has plans to influence economic prosperity within the wider mid-Mersey region and create 2,500 local job opportunities over the next five years.

Torus Group chief executive Rob Young said: “There is a desperate need for affordable homes in the North West. By joining forces as a group, we aim to address this shortfall. Utilising our significant asset strength – some 22,000 homes – we intend to build more homes for both rent and sale.”
 
And Young says that building homes will open doors for local people. “By 2020, we will build 1,500 homes.

“Each affordable home we build contributes a sizeable investment to the local economy, creates jobs for local people and opportunities for local businesses.

“We’re here to deliver housing regeneration with sustainable, economic and social regeneration at its heart.”

Torus Group employs 1,000 people.
 

 

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