Archive: Feb 2019

  1. Huckletree to open first Manchester operation at Express Building

    Huckletree, the workspace accelerator, will open its first Manchester operation in the Grade II*Listed Express Building on Great Ancoats Street in autumn 2019.

    Huckletree is taking the lower ground, ground, and first floors (25,800 sq ft in total) in the 77,600 sq ft building which was built in 1939 for the Daily Express newspaper.

    The choice of the Express Building for Manchester is in-keeping with Huckletree’s ethos of taking on inspiring and unique spaces. Huckletree has work spaces in Dublin, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch and White City in London, and has just announced it is to open in the Ingestre Court building in Soho in spring this year.

    Since Huckletree’s launch in 2014, its Founders Gabriela Hersham and Andrew Lynch have been committed to curating communities of enterprising businesses. Huckletree has built a reputation for facilitating collaboration among its members which include startups, scaleups and global innovation teams in the digital industries.”

    Andrew Lynch, co-founder, Huckletree said: “We are absolutely delighted to be opening our first Manchester Huckletree in the Express Building. It’s a fantastic, and I know, much loved building. The tech scene in Manchester is incredible and I know the spirit of collaboration is intrinsic in the City, so we know Huckletree will be able to help many businesses develop and grow.”

    OBI is leasing agent on behalf of the Express Building owners Wittington Investments. Richard Lace, transactions and asset management OBI said: “It’s a real coup to secure Huckletree in the Express Building, they are a perfect match for the asset. It is a great to be able to work with them as we bring this Manchester icon back into use and once again make it one of the most pioneering workspaces in Manchester.”

    OBI workplace consultancy team is working with Huckletree on the interior design of its space.

    Originally designed by Sir Owen Williams, the multi-million pound refurbishment of Express Building is being led by OBI and designed by Ben Adams Architects Ltd.

    The reception has been completely redesigned and a cut-out will be introduced at ground floor with a new feature staircase linking the lower ground and ground floors.

    The internal floor fixtures and fittings are being stripped out and the original architecture celebrated throughout the building. A new mezzanine floor will be installed on the sixth floor.

    Dominic Horridge, building consultancy, OBI said: “Express Building is a Manchester landmark. It is an honour to be working with the building, teasing out its original design and celebrating it while at the same time creating truly modern, super-connected new work space.”

    This news was published by Insider Media and Place North West.

  2. Raisin UK make the move to Cobden House, Piccadilly, Manchester

    OBI announced Raisin UK, the on-line savings platform, has acquired 4,187 sq ft on the fourth floor at Cobden House, 12-16 Mosley Street, Manchester on a five year lease at £20.00 per sq ft.

    Raisin UK is the British arm of leading European deposit marketplace raisin.com. Raisin was established in Berlin in 2013 and has grown to be one of Europe’s leading financial technology (FinTech) businesses, with over €11 billion of savings deposits processed and more than 160,000 customers across Europe.

    The UK marketplace launched in 2018, with offices at Rational House on Bridge Street, Manchester and the team of 26 is moving into larger space at Cobden House due to the exponential growth of the business, which is set to continue into 2019 and beyond.

    Kevin Mountford, Chief Executive Officer at Raisin UK said: “The space efficient 4,187 sq ft floorplate benefited from a substantial refurbishment giving us peace of mind when investing in our own fit-out.  We wanted to ensure that the business delivered a high-quality workspace for our staff and the specification and location of Cobden House has facilitated just that.”

    OBI represented Raisin UK on the deal and Cushman & Wakefield and Canning O’Neill acted for the landlord Orbit.

    Andrew Cowell, transactions and asset management, OBI said: “Raisin UK is a fantastic example of the strength and depth of the tech sector in Manchester. Having already outgrown the offices they launched in last year, we know Cobden House will be an excellent base for them.”

    Adam Jackson, Orbit said: “We’ve recently completed a substantial refurbishment of Cobden House and to attract a high calibre FinTech occupier so soon is a real coup. We are pleased to welcome Raisin UK to the building.”

    Cobden House was designed by architect Edward Walters for Richard Cobden’s calico printing business in 1839. Today, Cobden House is owned by Orbit Developments and has received a substantial refurbishment to all common areas and office floors with the replacement of M + E services to include new air conditioning enabling occupancy of 1:6 sq m, new passenger lift, new WC’s, Showers and Cycle Hub. Three floors now remain with each providing approximately 4,500 sq ft.

    This story is featured in Insider Media and The Business Desk.

  3. Lancaster Buildings, 77 Deansgate fully let

    OBI announced the completion of the phased refurbishment of Lancaster Buildings, 77 Deansgate, Manchester and confirmed the building is fully let following the expansion of Day Architectural into the newly refurbished first floor suite of 3,937 sq ft.

    OBI acted on behalf of BCL Legal, the landlord of Lancaster Buildings.  BCL Legal occupies the whole of the third floor (7,308 sq ft). The final transactions completed at Lancaster Buildings were:

    • Northpoint Recruitment who have taken 1,196 sq ft on the second floor.
    • Having moved into 2,537 sq ft on the second floor in January 2018, Day Architectural has expanded its space to 3,937 sq ft.
    • Digital agency Indiespring has increased its space from 1,196 sq ft to 2,537 sq ft.

    The other occupier in Lancaster Buildings is National Housing Federation.

    James Batt, Managing Director, BCL Legal said: “Having worked with OBI over a number of years it is fantastic to see Lancaster Buildings transformed and fully let. We welcome Northpoint Recruitment into the building and it’s hugely positive that our existing occupiers have been able to expand their space within the building.”

    Debbie Meredith, Transactions and Asset Management, OBI said: “It has been great to work with BCL Legal on the leasing, design and refurbishment of Lancaster Buildings and it is good to see customers being able to expand easily. It is positive to have the building fully let following our phased refurbishment of the building.”

    OBI advised BCL Legal on the original acquisition, leasing, the interior design and project management of the fit out of the building.

  4. The University of Manchester reveals next steps in North Campus development partner search

    The University of Manchester has submitted a PIN (Prior Information Notice) to the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), to begin pre-market engagement as part of its search to find an investor and development partner to deliver a new c.£1.5 billion Innovation District in Manchester City Centre to be called ID Manchester.

    The University of Manchester’s vision is the 26 acre (10.5 hectare) ID Manchester will be a dynamic, world-class community with innovation, collaboration and enterprise at its heart, with the potential to create over 6000 new jobs.

    Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “We are looking for the very best joint-venture partner to work with us to develop this prime site in the heart of the city which will generate thousands of new jobs and will enhance the reputation of the University and the city as the place where the world’s most valuable ideas are transformed into reality.”

    ID Manchester benefits from an adopted Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF). Current development parameters, which align with the University’s current vision, could comprise a circa 3.5 million sq ft of mixed use space including three acres of high quality public realm.

    Any revision to the existing SRF should be brought forward in close collaboration with Manchester City Council.

    The site benefits from existing green space and the unique feature of the 650,000 sq ft Grade II Listed Sackville Street Building, which offers a fantastic opportunity for re-purposing.

    The University occupies the recently opened £60 million Masdar Building, home to the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, and the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology at the south end of the site and is looking for a partner to develop the remaining c.16.4 acres (6.64 hectares) of the site.

    Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The potential of ID Manchester is huge. There are tremendous opportunities to regenerate this distinctive part of the city and we welcome the University’s growth, investment and job-creation ambitions for the development.”

    ID Manchester is adjacent to Manchester’s main public transport hub Piccadilly Railway Station and future HS2 station, and is a 20 minute train journey to the international airport.

    ID Manchester is another piece in the jigsaw of the major regeneration taking place in that area of the city including Mayfield, London Road Fire Station, Kampus, Circle Square and the £1 billion investment already being made into its main Oxford Road campus by The University of Manchester.

    Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities of The University of Manchester said: “We are at the beginning of an exciting journey as we look forward to finding a partner to help us deliver our vision for an outstanding new community, on the last site of its size and scale yet to be developed in the city centre.

    “ID Manchester will build upon the proud history of bold ideas, discovery and invention established by the University here. It will attract the most forward-thinking, like-minded individuals and businesses with the chance to establish their UK HQ, start up or scale up their company, take on and benefit from disruptive technologies and ideas or simply come and enjoy this inspirational space.”

    CBRE is the property advisor on ID Manchester for The University of Manchester. Colin Thomasson Executive Director, CBRE said: “ID Manchester is an exceptional opportunity for the right partner to work with one the world’s leading education and research institutions, in one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic cities in Europe.”

    This news was published by BusinessCloud, Construction Enquirer, Manchester Evening News and Mancunion.