Law firm makes near £1m move

BOLTON law firm Asons is moving into the former home of the town’s local newspaper after buying the building for a figure believed to be more than £900,000.

Asons will make its new HQ at Newspaper House at 40 Churchgate in the town centre.

The purchase of the four-storey building follows the abandonment by the company of a £7m scheme to build a new HQ at the gateway to the town on Clarence Street in December.

Plans were dashed by the Government’s crackdown on whiplash injury claims, then a significant source of revenue for the company.

The property, located in the conservation area next to Bolton Parish Church, consists of 25,130 sq ft of floor space which is currently undergoing a bespoke refurbishment.
 
The development plans include a rooftop garden, a restaurant, state-of-the-art meeting pods and other staff facilities designed to the highest specification.

Chief executive Imran Akram said. “It is very important to us to have made this long-term commitment to remain in Bolton and for us to remain a part of the town’s own exciting growth plans.
 
“Legislation changes meant that last year was a particularly turbulent time for the legal industry but we have come through that in the strongest position we’ve ever been. We’re in a very solid position financially with a fantastic team in place, a new corporate vision and renewed focus.”

Principal director Kamran Akram added: “It has always been our goal to be the best and this move gets us closer to that. Other options were explored to an advanced stage but this opportunity presents the perfect opportunity for Asons, our employees and the calibre of talent we want to attract.”