Property round up: Odgers Berndtson; Brookhouse Group; The Hive & more
GLOBAL executive search firm Odgers Berndtson is to relocate its Manchester office to 82 King Street.
The office will house all subsidiaries of the Odgers Berndtson group – Odgers Berdtson, Berwick Partners and Odgers Interim.
82 King Street is one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings and is the former home to the Bank of England in Manchester. The company is moving from Manchester International Office Centre, in Wythenshawe.
Odgers Berndtson says it has selected the prestigious site as it emphasises its commitment to the North West.
Berwick Partners managing director and head of the regional offices of Odgers group Richard Love said the move was “a strong statement of intent”.
“It reflects our commitment to the region and also the clear opportunities for growth and expansion that we see in the North West.
“We believe Manchester is key to our continued growth and our new office will provide an excellent platform to increase our headcount and expand the range of expertise we have within the team.”
Odgers Berndtson’s Manchester operation has enjoyed a 25% increase in staff and a 30% increase in revenue over the last three years. It is predicting a further 30% growth in staff, with new roles created as a result of this office move.
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OUTLINE planning permission has been granted for 209 homes in Leigh, near Wigan , on the former Parsonage Colliery – renowned for having the deepest mine shaft in Western Europe.
Consent was secured by Savills planning team on behalf of Cheshire-based developer Brookhouse Group.
Savills Manchester associate director Matthew Sobic said: “The residential scheme is part of a wider mixed use commercial and residential development which will see the former colliery site regenerated in full.
“We have been greatly encouraged by Wigan Council’s proactive and can-do attitude to development of the Borough.”
Brookhouse group property director Mike Nuttall said: “The delivery of residential development on the land at Westleigh Brook is a key component to our mixed use regeneration of the former Parsonage Colliery.
“We have already successfully delivered a new Sainsbury’s superstore and Marks and Spencer outlet at the site which has enhanced the shopping offer of Leigh and further economic development is proposed. This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the enhancement of Leigh.”
“The Savills Planning team has been critical to our success in delivering the regeneration of the former Colliery site.”
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THE world’s biggest spade helped mark the start of construction work on Wirral’s new £6m Youth Zone – The Hive – as it takes a significant step closer to opening.
The £6m facility is scheduled to be completed by contractor HHSmith Sons Company by the end of 2016 following the designs put forward by architects Seven Architecture.
The new Youth Zone is to be built on Exmouth Street, adjacent to the new Fire Station, in the centre of Birkenhead and organisers say it will be a place where a Wirral’s young people can reach their full potential, grow their dreams and achieve their goals.
The Hive will cost £1m per year to run and this will be secured through a combination of public sector and private sector funding.
It has already received support from Founder Patron’s Urenco UK and they will soon be joined by a brand new supporter – Boulting Group – a multi-disciplined engineering solutions provider, operating in a diverse range of industry sectors in the UK and internationally.
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MARINE engine specialist James Troop & Co has invested £100,000 in a site upgrade transforming the appearance and operational efficiency of its Merseyside headquarters.
The company says the move has revitalised the onsite customer facility to encourage more trade from the maritime, industrial and agricultural sectors to the Runcorn site.
James Troop supplies engines, gen sets, CHP systems and parts from global brands including Volvo Penta, Daihatsu, MTU, Deutz, Cummins, Perkins and MAN.
Managing director Bob Troop said the cash injection has also boosted onsite livery and branding with new signage, paintwork and a car-park expansion, along with a new one-way car system to improve traffic flow.
“James Troop is one of the oldest family companies in the UK maritime industry, and is known for its track record, loyalty and commitment to its customers,” he said.
“However, it is vitally important that we continue to communicate our progressive outlook we have as a thrusting, dynamic, global firm.”
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THE international burger joint Five Guys has officially opened in Liverpool’s Queen Square.
Five Guys is the first tenant to open in the former Rat and Parrot pub, part of Promenade Estates’ £1m transformation of the building in to a retail and leisure complex.
The scheme has seen the 14,500 sq ft building redesigned and fitted with aluminium cladding, LED lighting and will feature an outdoor roof terrace.
The works were undertaken on behalf of Promenade Estates by W H Snow.
It joins Nando’s, La Tasca and Buffalo Jacks amongst the restaurant offering at Queen Square in the St George’s Quarter.
The restaurant is famous for its casual fast-food mantra, as well as its freshly made, fully customisable burgers, hand-cut fries and milkshakes.
The group has more than 1,200 locations in the US and has grown rapidly in the UK, with a total of 31 restaurants opening since 2013.
Daniel Hynd, managing director of Promenade Estates, says: “The regeneration of the Rat and Parrot pub is part of the next phase of growth for Queen Square, so it’s brilliant to see the first tenant up and running, especially a fast growing international brand like Five Guys.”
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MANCHESTER-based Harbur Construction has handed over 23 new properties at a multi-million-pound housing scheme in East Lancashire.
The recently completed Calder Green development is based at the former site of a neglected factory on land off Station Road in Padiham.
Harbur Construction has built the new two, three and four-bedroom houses on behalf of Airevale Homes, which is making the mews, semi-detached and detached style properties available for private sale.
Harbur managing director Richard Hutchinson said: “The new development has not only helped to regenerate an eye-sore site, but has also boosted the supply of high-quality family housing in an area where demand is high.”
The handover marks the completion of the third phase of a six-stage development which will bring a total of 120 new properties to the Lancashire town.
The six-stage development has full planning permission for 82 homes and outline planning for a further 38 properties.
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A HISTORIC building in Liverpool dating back to 1854 has come on to the market.
Melbourne Buildings in Liverpool city centre is offering 2,716sq ft of office space to let.
The Grade II listed building on North John Street, in part dating back to 1854, has undergone cosmetic refurbishment to restore the original features whilst offering office space suitable for the modern occupier.
The building provides nearly 3,000 sq ft of high quality office space across three upper floors. The ground floor of the property is occupied by a restaurant.
Hitchcock Wright & Partners is marketing the property on behalf of Derwent Lodge Estates.
It was built as Melbourne House in 1854 by Sir James A. Picton, an architect who was responsible for many important buildings in Liverpool.
Notable work includes the Hargreaves Building on Chapel Street and the Queen Insurance Buildings on Dale Street.
In the 1900s the building housed the Solicitors Law Stationery Society, a company which supplied office products to the legal profession. As well as the Liverpool office, the company had offices in London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
A rooftop extension to the building was added in 1975 and the distinct blue exterior was repainted a few years ago.
Sean Collins-Jones at agent Hitchcock Wright & Partners, said: “The Melbourne Buildings is a unique property in Liverpool with an interesting history going back 160 years. The location and amenities on offer make it an ideal office accommodation.”
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WORKSPACE Design & Build has risen to new heights as it occupies the top floor of Manchester One on Portland Street in the city.
The award-winning fit-out contractor undertook a creative fit-out of the highest floor of the iconic office building earlier this year and subsequently took occupancy in June.
The team worked alongside property partner Bruntwood to renovate the 21st floor of Manchester One, creating a sophisticated and desirable city centre working environment with their knowledge and expertise of transforming office spaces.
The firm has grown rapidly over the past year and felt the space was the ideal fit for them to expand into.
Employees are enjoying a panoramic view, highly digital connectivity, minimalist design plus the highest garden in Manchester with fully functioning Bowling Green.
Russell Davis, Managing Director at Workspace D&B, said: “As the needs of the modern employee evolve, so should their workspace.
“We’ve expanded the team significantly over the past twelve months, while also investing in a dedicated business development team to capitalise on the influx of migrating businesses we’ve seen post-recession.”
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ARCHETECTURAL practice Sheppard Robson, which has offices in Manchester, has completed the £28m transformation of the University of Hull’s Brynmor Jones Library where poet Philip Larkin was librarian between 1955 and 1985.
The 172,000sq ft project involves the complete refurbishment of the library’s two buildings – the 1956 original Art Deco building, and the eight-storey plus basement Brutalist building that was added in the1960s – with a newly formed central atrium space improving the connectivity between the two.
