Archive

  1. OBI Property and Enterprise City push diversity agenda forward

    OBI Property teamed up with Allied London, developer of Enterprise City (ECUK) to host a frank discussion on diversity in the workplace and its effect on business growth.  Over 100 people joined in the debate which led to a number of positive action points which everyone agreed to take on board.

    Chaired by Kirsty Styles, talent and skills lead for Tech North, the panel comprised: Naomi Timperley, director and co-founder, Tech North Advocates; Kirsty Devlin, business development manager, Webantic; Vimla Appadoo, service designer, Department for Work and Pensions and Mylo Kaye, chief executive, Dreamr

    The consensus among the panel and audience was while inequality in gender, race, age and class remain a huge area for everyone to tackle, there’s simple steps any business or individual can take to move diversity in the work place forward:

    • Encourage work place/lunch time discussions about diversity, gender and race – encourage your team to exchange their personal experiences and talk about how it relates to the work place. Ask your team what diversity means to them.
    • Make sure the language of job descriptions are reviewed properly – overly masculine words can put off half your applicants off. There is software readily available to do this.
    • Use social media to share positive examples and articles of people and businesses doing amazing things to promote diversity.
    • Involve yourselves with mentoring programmes for young people, the panel all agreed a major key anyone getting into work is confidence and self-belief.

    Joe Averill, OBI Property said: “Diversity is a key issue facing Manchester businesses, particularly those experiencing fast growth.  The panelists and audience at our event were already clearly engaged in providing encouraging and positive working environments and it is great to be able to share that with a wider audience.

    Daisy Barnes, Allied London which is delivering Enterprise City, said:  “ECUK will continue support diversity in Manchester over the coming 12 months. Diversity is something everyone needs to be positively supporting, not just because without it the city is missing out on major talent, but because it makes business sense too.

    This news was published by Business Cloud.

  2. Topping out signifies major milestone for Middlewood Locks

    UK and International real estate developer and investor Scarborough International Properties Limited and Beijing Construction Engineering Group International (BCEGI) celebrated a major milestone in the construction of phase one at Middlewood Locks, the much anticipated £1 billion mixed use development in Salford and at the gateway to Manchester city centre.

    A ‘topping out’ ceremony took place on the roof [at the top] of the final building in the first phase of the development which comprises 571 apartments and 10,000 Sq ft of commercial space. The internal fit out is now underway with the first residents expected to move in in Spring 2018.

    Guests, including Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett and Vice Consul General to the People’s Republic of China in Manchester Fan Yingjie, witnessed the planting of a yew tree (traditionally planted on roofs to ward off evil spirits) and then anointed the tree with wine, corn, oil and salt to bring prosperity, wisdom, abundance and hospitality to the development and its residents.

    Last November BCEGI signed an £85 million contract with FairBriar International, a joint venture partnership between Scarborough, Hualing Group of China and Singapore listed Metro Holdings Limited to deliver phase one.

    The 24.5-acre Middlewood Locks development is now progressing apace to deliver a vibrant new waterside neighbourhood where two great cities, Salford and Manchester meet.  It will provide 2,215 new homes and 900,000 sq ft of commercial space including offices, hotel, shops, restaurants, a convenience store and gym. With unique landscaped areas of green public space, the scheme is being developed around three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal which connects to the River Irwell and is a short walk from the central business district and retail amenities of Manchester city centre.

    Last month saw the launch of a new two storey purpose built marketing suite and show apartment with interested buyers queueing to buy their new home in Middlewood Locks on the day the marketing suite opened.  Middlewood Locks also has the largest allocation of new homes available through Help to Buy in the City, with the first residents moving into their new homes in Spring next year.  The Government backed scheme allows first time buyers onto the property ladder with as little as a 5% deposit.

    Kevin McCabe, Chairman of Scarborough commented:

    “We are delighted to achieve ‘topping out’ for the first phase of our Middlewood Locks development which signifies an extremely successful partnership with BCEGI. Despite a complex delivery programme and tight timescale this first phase remains on schedule, to the credit of BCEGI and the wider project team.

    “Middlewood Locks is a major undertaking for us and I am pleased to say greatly supports the regional economy with strong job creation and ultimately much needed new homes in the city.”

    Mr Yan Xing, Regional Director, Europe & North America, BCEGI said:

    “I am very pleased we have reached this important milestone on Phase One of Middlewood Locks and our partnership with Scarborough Group is going from strength to strength.

    “BCEGI is developing long term relationships with local contractors and sub-contractors which are proving to be very successful.  We are wholly committed to growing our business in the UK, especially in the Northern Powerhouse region and our work here in Greater Manchester, is providing a solid foundation for us.”

    Vice Consul General Fan Yingjie, the People’s Republic of China in Manchester said:

    “It is wonderful to visit Middlewood Locks at such a significant stage in the project. The partnership between Scarborough and BCEGI is an excellent example of how UK and Chinese businesses can work together to achieve positive results, not just in terms of creating this new community but also creating jobs and helping economic growth.”

    Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett said:

    “It is very pleasing to see the Middlewood Locks project becoming the success story that we had envisaged, bringing real benefit to the people of Salford. This is a brownfield derelict site being brought back into beneficial use with a new residential district.

    “Together with BCEGI we have had great success in securing work opportunity for our young people and to date Middlewood Locks has employed 15 apprentices.  Furthermore, over 60% of the Middlewood Locks workforce is from the local area and my colleagues at Salford City Council have been working closely with BCEGI to establish work placements and host open days resulting in ten full time positions taken by people who were previously struggling to get back into employment.

    “We are excited to see further benefits for the community through working together over the future phases of this development, ensuring that growth in the city delivers on our social values and tackling poverty aspirations as a city. ”

    This news was published by Manchester Evening News, Place North West & The Business Desk.

  3. 42-44 Fountain Street, Manchester sold

    OBI Property has announced the sale of 42-44 Fountain Street, Manchester to BMO Real Estate Partners. OBI Property, along with CBRE, advised building owners The Wakefield Property Partnership who are represented by Leeds based Wilton Developments on the redevelopment and asset management of the property.

    The six upper floors of office accommodation are let to Rentalcars.com and the ground floor unit is currently being marketed for leisure use. The seven-storey building comprises 24,750 sq ft and was sold for £9.86 million representing a yield of 5.75%.

    Jason Stowe, managing director, Wilton Developments said: “We initially acquired the building with the residue of a long lease, we identified the building was suitable for a comprehensive refurbishment and reimagining which we have undertaken on behalf of Wakefield Property Partnership. We are pleased with the results which have been further endorsed by the swift letting to Rentalcars.com and the investment sale to BMO which we are announcing today.”

    Will Lewis, transactions and asset management, OBI Property said: “We are delighted to complete the journey with our clients on this asset and the exit price confirms the strong level of investor demand for prime Manchester city centre buildings. This transaction represents how OBI Property create significant value for our clients – we acquired the building six years ago, undertook the dilapidations negotiations with the former tenant, provided interior design input and fully leased the building prior to completion of the works. It has been great to apply the OBI Difference having been involved at all stages from acquisition through to disposal.”

    BMO Real Estate was represented by Jonathan Brown of Capita on the deal.

    This news was published by Insider.

  4. OBI Property to transform Express Building, Ancoats, Manchester

    OBI Property has announced a Listed Building application has been submitted to Manchester City Council to transform and fully refurbish the 81,000 sq ft Grade II* Listed Express Building, Great Ancoats Street, Manchester.

    Originally designed by Sir Owen Williams and built specifically for the Express newspaper in 1939, the planned multi-million pound refurbishment of Express Building is being led by OBI Property and designed by Ben Adams Architects Ltd.

    The internal floors will be stripped out and the original architecture celebrated throughout the building. The reception will be completely redesigned and a cut-out will be introduced at ground floor with a new spiral staircase linking the ground and first floors. The existing atrium will be remodelled to introduce floating meeting pods and a new mezzanine floor will be installed on the sixth floor.

    James Bostock, building consultancy, OBI Property said: “Express Building is a Manchester landmark and it is incredibly exciting to be involved in breathing a new lease of life into the well-know and much loved building.  Our intention is to raise the bar in Manchester; combining efficient, super connected workspace, with unrivalled occupier amenities in one of the most dynamic areas of the city centre.”

    Richard Lace, transactions and asset management, OBI Property said: “When completed Express Building will provide forward thinking, contemporary workspace that respects the character of this iconic property.  It will be aimed at occupiers from a wide range of sectors, including those who are part of the thriving digital and tech scene.”

    The project team includes:

    • Project Management, Cost Consultant, Contract Administrator, Principal Designer – OBI Property.
    • Leasing Agent – OBI Property.
    • Architect – Ben Adams Architects.
    • Structural Engineer – Tier Consult.
    • M&E Consultant – Zerum.
    • Planning Consultant – Zerum.
    • Heritage Consultant – Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture.

     

    This news was published by The Business Desk and Insider.

  5. Two join OBI Property building consultancy team

    OBI Property has announced Martin Gizzie and Chris Howson have joined its building consultancy team, taking it to 7 people. OBI Property now employs a team of x across the whole business

    Martin and Chris will primarily assist the building consultancy team on project management contract administration and dilapidation projects.

    Martin has a great deal of experience having project managed many large schemes and building refurbishments. A chartered commercial building surveyor, Martin has been in the industry since 2001. He spent the last 16 months with WYG Group as an associate director. Previous to that, Martin spent 12 years working for Bruntwood.

    Martin said: “I am excited to join the team at OBI Property. I admire the passion OBI demonstrates through the projects it delivers. I look forward to putting my experience and skills to good use.”

    Chris, who has a master’s degree in Building Surveying from Sheffield Hallam University, previously spent four years with Gray Scanlan Hill in Manchester. He is working on several Manchester based refurbishment projects for OBI Property’s landlord and occupier clients.

    Chris said: “I am thrilled to join OBI Property I look forward to pursuing exciting projects with the team and further develop their already extensive service.”

    Dominic Horridge, director, OBI Property said: “I am delighted to announce the two new members to our team. At OBI Property, we are ambitious and driven by our passion to deliver innovative solutions for our clients.  Martin and Chris will be a great fit for the company and will further strengthening our existing team.”

    This news was published by Place North West.