You half jest but it could easily be video conferencing facilities with additional add-ons.miffmoff said:It could be a series of bookable meeting rooms setup by Bruntwood in partnership with Microsoft to showcase their groundbreaking new PowerPoint delivery methods. Zzzz...
http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/12220-web-insurance-firm-to-build-100-000-sq-ft.html6 Sep 2012, 10:54
Insurance software house CDL is to expand in Stockport after agreeing a deal with Seddon Developments to buy 4.5 acres of riverfront land next to its current Strata House headquarters in Kings Reach.
CDL has submitted a planning application for its new campus development, which will contain four buildings, providing 100,000 sq ft of offices.
Subject to planning, CDL expects to begin construction on the first phase, a 30,000 sq ft building, during the first quarter of 2013.
The project is designed by Liverpool-based Edge Architects. No construction partner has yet been appointed.
Cllr Iain Roberts, executive member for economic development and regeneration at Stockport Council, said: "Kings Reach is continuing its success story with CDL's decision to stay in Stockport. It's good to see a locally based growing company with a national reputation and client base stay and expand within the borough. We've worked closely with CDL to support them and I'm delighted with the result, which also means more local jobs for local people."
CDL has doubled its workforce since it bought and moved into Strata House in 2006. CDL now employs 400 people, and anticipates that a further 150 IT jobs will be created by 2015.
Tom Hogg, managing director of CDL, said: "CDL has maintained consistent growth on the back of the ongoing roll-out of our flagship Strata system, and we are seeing significant activity around the fast growing telematics and mobile sectors.
"We are delighted to have secured this deal, which will allow us to expand the company further on our existing site, creating a wider CDL 'campus' with no relocation of staff and maximum business continuity."
CDL was founded by Tom Hogg and wife, Jessica, 35 years ago. Clients include Tesco Bank, esure broker and Hastings Direct. CDL offers integrated administration and web solutions that enable intermediaries to compete effectively in the highly competitive insurance marketplace.
The amount of empty new office space in Manchester city centre has declined by more than half in the past two years, say experts.
Grade A office space availability in the city centre of Manchester has fallen by 54 per cent in the period and by eight per cent so far in 2012, say researchers at surveyors Colliers International.
The firm says the supply of good new office space is unlikely to increase. Lack of finance has put a brake on new development and prompted an increase in the refurbishment of older and redundant office stock.
Overall vacant office space in the city centre stands at 16.8 per cent.
The second quarter of 2012 saw a small rise in the overall availability of office space in Manchester – the first such rise since mid-2009. This was due to greater supply of Grade B, non-refurbished office space, which was rose 16 per cent in the first six months of this year.
Rupert Barron, a director at the Manchester office of Colliers International, said: “This data will hopefully prompt renewed investor/developer interest to deliver the next generation of major schemes to continue the growth of the second city.”
Tandem Law opens Spinningfields office
September 25, 2012
A north West law firm is taking space in a city centre office block as it launches its second office in the region.
Tandem Law has signed for 5,200 sq ft at Tower 12, the latest addition to Manchester's Spinningields business district.
The Preston practice, which was set up in August 2011, will move into the eleventh floor of the building in November.
Manchester-based Sheila Bird Group has been appointed to design the office space and manage Tandem's move into Tower 12.
The 75,000 sq ft building, previously known as Manchester House, has been developed by Allied London.
It is located near to the Oast House pub, in the heart of Spinnignfields, and is linked to Bridge Street by a pedestrian walkway called Avenue North.
Tandem specialises in professional and clinical negligence, commercial litigation, debt collection and financial mis-selling work.
It also provides marketing and web design services.
Managing director Andrew Lindsay said: “Our move to Tower 12 represents a significant time for our business, as our combined legal and marketing expertise have met a demand in the market, enabling us to increase our presence in the region.”
He added : “The location at Spinningfields is fantastic, whilst the office space itself is full of natural light enabling Sheila Bird to create an inspiring working environment that supports our growing team, whilst also providing a great place to welcome our clients.”
The Tandem letting is the latest boost for Tower 12.
In August, barristers chambers Lincoln House moved there from its previous base on Brazenose Street.
Membership body pro.manchester also moved into the block in early September.
Atul Bansal, co-founder of Sheila Bird Group, said: “The architecture and design of Tower 12 is really refreshing and it is a fantastic example of how to make an existing building of this age work for modern occupiers.
“Allied London and Manchester City Council have been brave and pioneering taking a fresh approach to Tower 12, using the exposed concrete and wood to make it standout from the steel and glass of Spinningfields, as well as many other buildings in Manchester.
“We are confident that Tandem will benefit from its first city centre base and have included a striking welcome-wall, which is lined with the natural wooden rods to be a key feature of the new office.”
http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/archive/12323-two-more-join-march-to-tower-12.html26 Sep 2012, 10:46
Tower 12 letting agent OBI Property has completed further deals at the rapidly filling-up office development in Allied London's Spinningfields, central Manchester.
Business Growth Fund, established in October 2011 by a group of high street banks to invest in small firms, has relocated from serviced office accommodation to 2,000 sq ft in Tower 12.
In the second deal, start-up law firm Tandem Law, specialising in debt collection and clinical negligence, will occupy 5,200 sq ft on the 11th floor. Manchester-based interior designer Sheila Bird Group has been appointed by Tandem Law to complete the design and project management of the lawyers' office.
The refurbished former Manchester House contains 40,000 sq ft of offices on ten floors above 35,000 sq ft of restaurant and retail units. The office space is almost fully let only six months after the first units were completed and launched to market.
Michael Ingall, chief executive of Allied London Properties, said: "Tower 12 is undoubtedly Manchester's major success this year, with this recent letting being the seventh transaction converted over the past six months."
OBI Property advised BGF on the acquisition of its new premises and also designed and project-managed the fit-out on BGF's behalf.
Will Lewis, partner in OBI Property, said: "It has been great working with Andy Gregory and his team on this move at such an exciting time for BGF. The office looks stunning and I'm sure BGF will be an excellent asset, not just to Spinningfields, but to the many SME businesses in the region."
Andy Gregory, BGF regional director, said: "We initially worked from serviced offices, however as the team grew and our involvement in the region increased, we required a permanent base in the city from which we can expand even further. We are delighted to be moving to a permanent home in Tower 12; the location will allow us to build on the success we have already had in the North of England."
BGF made its first investment in Manchester in April 2012, agreeing a £3.25m equity deal with Mexican-style street food chain, Barburrito. Since then the BGF team has expanded to five staff and completed four deals including backing Northern pub chain Wear Inns and Springfield Healthcare, the largest independent provider of domiciliary care in Yorkshire and Humberside.
Debt collector grows at Towers
28 Sep 2012, 08:52
Moorfield Group and Property Alliance Group have secured a new ten-year lease on 7,500 sq ft with Allied International Credit at Towers business park in south Manchester.
AIC is a debt collection services agency and has been based at Towers for three years. The company has named the Manchester office as its new headquarters, previously located in Basingstoke. AIC's headcount in Towers has gone from 15 staff in April 2009 to 129 today, with turnover rising during the same time from £6.7m to £8.4m.
Martin Roseweir, managing director of AIC commented: "Our Towers office has become a flagship for the growth of our business in the UK. It offers a great place to come to work and has allowed AIC to provide an excellent environment for our staff.
"We are proud of our achievements over the past three years and our UK HQ will showcase this and welcome clients who are regularly invited to visit. Due to the success of the Manchester business, we have decided to further extend our lease at Towers through to 2022, demonstrating our commitment to our staff and clients."
AIC has offices in Canada, the USA and UK and provides debt collection services to financial institutions, government, telecommunications, utilities, retail and health care sectors.
Hamill brings forward Quays serviced offices
27 Sep 2012, 11:06
Hamill Investments has appointed Manchester-based Stone Construction NW to refurbish HQ: Hamill at the Quays, an office building at Clippers Quay in Salford Quays.
Hamill's acquired the 14,220 sq ft building in the summer and will reconfigure it to provide 35 serviced office suites ranging from 100 sq ft to 500 sq ft.
Stone Construction started on site immediately and the refurbishment is expected to take three months to complete.
Chris Neill, managing director of Hamill, said: "With little flexible serviced accommodation available in and around MediaCityUK, our aim is to bring these modern suites to the market by November this year to cater for this surplus demand. We are ahead of schedule and are already negotiating with a number of interested parties and expect to announce the first tenants very soon.
"These high quality serviced offices are likely to appeal to digital, media, creative and new technology sectors. The easy in and out terms and excellent communication systems will give tenants the support they need to flourish."
McAlpine commits to Oxford Court
27 Sep 2012, 10:57
Sir Robert McAlpine has agreed a new 10-year lease moving within 15 Oxford Court, Manchester, to newly refurbished offices.
The construction giant has been based in the building for the past decade but on two floors and has now taken the opportunity to occupy a single floor, taking 4,000 sq ft across the whole of the third floor. The floor was recently refurbished and provides McAlpine with a single floorplate in a more modern air-conditioned environment.
Daniel Bourmad of PDA Holdings represented the syndicate landlord 15 Oxford Court Ltd. He said: "We are thrilled to announce this deal which truly reflects the investment made by the landlord into the building to offer a modern specification in an established courtyard location. The surrounding area is also vastly improving with the re-design of St Peter's Square, the development of 1 St Peter's Square where KPMG are to be based, the high-speed fibre network along Oxford Road Corridor and the £30m investment by Manchester City Council. We still have three-and-a-half other floors to let offering suites from just 1,168 sq ft with plentiful parking and hope that this recent deal will lead to further lettings soon."
Josh Levy of WHR, joint agents acting for the landlord, said: "This is excellent news for the building and the location. The St Peter's Square area is now the principle location for occupiers, based on the variety of high quality offices, the areas accessibility and the enhanced public space which will be on offer shortly."
Henderson lures AEW to Spring Gardens
18 Sep 2012, 08:48
Manchester-based architect AEW is to relocate from Century Buildings in St Mary's Parsonage to the Zenith Building.
AEW will move into 6,907 sq ft on the first floor in October, having signed a 10-year lease with a five-year break.
Steve Burne, managing director of AEW, said: "Our business is all about our staff, and they are absolutely delighted with the space and the location. We have a fantastic workforce and this exciting move gives us improved efficiencies and the environment to continue to deliver the best service. The move comes in a year in which we have established our BIM capability and which has seen significant commissions in our key sectors of retail, industrial, student accommodation, masterplanning, hotels and sport.
"We appointed Alex Russell of CBRE to acquire our new office and after an extensive search of Manchester's grade A office market, the team concluded that The Zenith Building best met our search criteria, based on location, price and quality. The close proximity to amenities and transport links coupled with the landlord, Henderson Global Investors' proactive approach, were also deciding factors."
Henderson Global Investors bought the 66,000 sq ft office building from Bill Wrather in July 2011 and slashed rents by more than 50%. The historic quoting rent of £28.50/sq ft was reduced to between £12.50/sq ft for the mezzanine over the ground floor up to £23.50/sq ft on second, third and fourth floors.
Marcus Langlands Pearse, director of UK property at Henderson Global Investors in London, said at the time of the acquisition the building would be fully let by the start of 2012. There is currently 29,000 sq ft remaining to let across seven of the 13 floors.
Langlands Pearse said: "Our letting strategy is proving to be a success allowing us to offer this high-quality space at a competitive price and is attracting the right occupiers. We have a great tenant mix within the building and I am confident that the building's location and prominence will complement AEW's growth plans and high calibre client base."
Existing tenants include Octapharma, Cushman & Wakefield, Overbury, Robert Half International and Ace Europe.
CBRE advised AEW Architects and OBI Property and Knight Frank advised the landlord.
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve.../1590128_soap-media-to-open-manchester-officeA digital media agency has announced it is opening a Manchester office.
Soap Media, based in Preston, will launch a base at 111 Piccadilly, in the city centre, where four staff will be based.
It specialises in lead generation, e-commerce and other digital marketing activities.
Clients include Booths Supermarket, Warrington retailer American Golf, Key Retirement Solutions and leisure brand Kukri Sports.
Managing director Markerle Davis said: “We’re really excited about this new chapter in our development.
“Having a base in Manchester means that we can begin to work more closely with businesses in the city and help them to grow their turnover through our services and expertise.
“Of course we will also reap the benefits of being an integral part of Manchester’s expanding digital network – a key factor in our decision to move into the city.”
Soap was given support by inward investment agency MIDAS when setting up its Manchester office. Chief executiveTim Newns said: “Right now, Manchester is the ideal location for a digital company such as Soap Media and their decision to move here demonstrates growing recognition for the city’s digital infrastructure.
“With their ambitious expansion plans, I’m sure that Soap Media will also benefit greatly from being in the midst of Manchester’s talented workforce, which is boosted by four universities and key media-based developments such as the Sharp Project and MediaCityUK.”
One of the world’s largest property developers is to make its “premiere” appearance in Manchester after buying the site of the former Odeon cinema in Oxford Road.
Texan property investor Hines has a portfolio worth more than $23bn.
It will develop the site in partnership with local firm Manchester & Metropolitan Properties.
They are looking for tenants for a 220,000 sq ft office block on the former cinema site. Work on site is not expected to begin until occupiers have been found.
Hines' arrival is being celebrated as a sign that Manchester’s status as a major focus for European property investment is now assured.
It comes as Delancey, one of the UK‘s largest property developers, expands into Manchester in partnership with the Co-Op Group.
Delancey will develop the NOMA office site on the former Co-Op HQ close to Victoria railway station.
A third as yet un-named international developer is understood to be close to completing the purchase of London Scottish House, close to the Midland Hotel and the Manchester Central convention centre.
The site is being sold by Irish developers Walls Group and could see a 180,000 sq ft office development.
Mike Hawkins, director at WHR Property Consultants, Manchester, and a key advisor on both the Odeon site and London Scottish House, said: “It is encouraging that international property investors, many of whom have been tacking Manchester for years, are choosing to invest now.
“There are really only two places that the big investors want to spend in the UK - London and Manchester.”
Hines, who are based in Houston, Texas, declined to comment on the decision to invest in Manchester.
Hines was founded by Gerald D. Hines in the US in 1957.
Since then the firm has developed more than 248 million sq ft of space - including projects currently under development- in 17 countries around the world.
It controls assets valued at around $23bn.
The firm’s European operation was established in London in 2000.
Hines UK now has over three million sq. ft. of projects acquired, completed or in the pipeline with a total value in excess of £750m.
These include projects in London and Birmingham.