Archive

  1. e3creative expands at Queens House, Manchester

    OBI Property, the letting agent for the landlord CBRE Global Investors, has announced integrated digital agency e3creative has expanded its workspace in Queens House, Manchester. The company which originally acquired 3,300 sq ft on the 4th floor of the building, is now doubling its space and has taken the 5th floor on a ten-year lease.

    e3creative was based in the Boardwalk, Knott Mill before moving into Queens House last year, following the refurbishment of the building by OBI Property on behalf of CBRE Global Investors.

    John Clark, director, CBRE Global Investors said: “We are delighted e3creative are expanding to the 5th floor after less than a year with us at Queens house.”

    Jake Welsh, managing director and founder, e3creative said: “Queens House has proved to be an excellent location for us.  The whole look and feel of the building provides a fantastic working environment for our growing team.”

    Andrew Cowell, transactions and asset management team, OBI Property, said: “It is great news that e3creative is expanding within Queens House so soon after taking occupation. We are pleased to know that they are happy with the service we have provided.”

    This news was published by Manchester Evening News.

  2. New tenant and renewals at One Marsden Street, Manchester

    OBI Property has announced Gerald Eve has renewed its lease on 3,500 sq ft of space and ABN AMRO has taken 2,500 sq ft on the fourth floor of One Marsden Street, Manchester M2 1HW.  Both deals are ten year leases with breaks at year five.

    OBI Property acted on behalf of building owner, the Standard Life Investments UK Real Estate Fund, and the deals come just a few weeks after Cushman & Wakefield renewed its lease on the second and third floors of the building.  Another occupier recently expanded on the first floor, adding 4,300 sq ft to the space it already occupies on the sixth and seventh floors.

    Andrew Cowell, transactions and asset management, OBI Property said: “Demand for workspace in prime buildings and in central locations in Manchester city centre like One Marsden Street remains very strong.  We had a lot of interest in the building and it is great to see new occupiers as well as existing ones expanding.”

    ABN AMRO, is relocating from Anchorage, Salford Quays into the city centre to support the growth of its business in Manchester.  The company was advised by Aston Rose.

    Deborah Bell, Commercial Director, ABN AMRO said: “We’re delighted to be moving into One Marsden Street, its prime central location is spot on for our team, clients and introducer partners.”

    Property consultants Gerald Eve is expanding its space in One Marsden Street and acted for themselves on the deal.

    This news was published by Insider.

  3. Plans approved for the £3.5 million expansion of Band on the Wall

    Inner City Music Limited, the charity that owns and operates Manchester’s multiple award-winning Band on the Wall, has announced Manchester City Council has approved plans for the expansion of the historic venue, including bringing the derelict Cocozza building, at the rear of the existing Band on the Wall, back to life.

    Gavin Sharp, CEO, Inner City Music said: “There has been a music venue operating at Band on the Wall for over a century, and we want to make sure it will be here for at least another 100 years. Bringing the Cocozza building into our footprint means we can significantly increase the main venue capacity, expand and upgrade our learning facilities and create a second smaller, intimate venue on-site which will have a capacity of 80.

    “Together with our learning and participation partners we will be able to nurture many more emerging local and international artists, help develop new talent with our expanded facilities, and foster learning in the new education and archive spaces being created on the top floor. I am delighted our plans have received planning consent from Manchester City Council.”

    Designed by Manchester-based OMI Architects and managed by specialist project managers Buro Four, the plans see the main venue capacity increase from 350 to 500 for headline artists and performances. The Picturehouse Bar will be re-modelled with the external terrace space increased and a new commercial kitchen installed.

    The planned learning complex will include a rooftop A/V suite, allowing young people and education participants to create new digital work by engaging with international touring artists.

    The new learning spaces will be home to Band on the Wall’s improved archive facilities, enabling the organisation to better catalogue its rich library of historical content. Selected archive materials will continue to be exhibited in the Picturehouse Bar.

    The Cocozza building is one of only a few remaining structures from the days of the Victorian Smithfield Market. Inner City Music is in the final stages of negotiating the purchase of the building and, subject to funding, the building façade will be saved and fully restored.

    Gavin Sharp said: “We respect and embrace the need to maintain and enhance the heritage of Band on the Wall. The Cocozza building is of historical significance to the Smithfield area of the Northern Quarter.

    “Our scheme meets the aspirations for additional music and education spaces to provide our audiences with a diverse music-based offering from internationally-renowned artists, but with respect for our local heritage and the history of our area and roots.”

    The inclusion of the Cocozza building creates a new opportunities along Foundry Street and it is planned to install digital artworks in place of venue windows. These changing displays will provide a canvas for artists to tell the story of not just Band on the Wall, but the surrounding area.

    Dave McCall, Director, OMI Architects, said: “OMI has a strong track record of designing within sensitive contexts and bringing disused buildings back to life. Projects like this demonstrate how formerly significant buildings which contributed to the growth, character and history of an area, such as the Northern Quarter, can be creatively reused to meet the future demands of the City.

    “Band on the Wall has been a cornerstone of Manchester’s music and cultural landscape for over a century and it is exciting to have developed proposals which will further enhance its offer to Manchester as well as continue to build upon its standing as a leading music and education venue in the North West.  Having looked at what the rest of Europe has to offer, we believe the expanded Band on the Wall will provide a truly unique platform for music in Manchester.”

    The envisaged cost of the expansion is approximately £3.5 million and securing planning permission is just one of several important steps to make before the project will come to fruition, including securing second-stage funding from Arts Council England.

    Gavin Sharp said: “While we have a long way to go to secure the extension of Band on the Wall, gaining planning permission and submitting our bid for further Arts Council England funding is very important milestone.

    ”Now is the right time to extend Band on the Wall. There is a huge amount of development taking place in our neighbourhood – such as NOMA, Angel Meadows, Northern Gateway, New Cross and Ancoats. With the rapid growth of Manchester City Centre we want to be able to continue to bring exceptional, international artists to our growing audience.”

    In addition to OMI Architects and Buro Four, the project team includes cost consultants Simon Fenton Partnership; structural engineer DP2 and building services engineer Progressive Services Design.

    Band on the Wall has championed and celebrated the value of diverse music for the best part of a century. It is a living music library and allows people to access, enjoy and participate in the best music of many cultures in a stimulating and social environment.

    This news was published by Insider.

  4. Tunafish Media signs up to Canada House

    OBI Property has announced Tunafish Media has taken a 2,000 sq ft office suite at Canada House, Chepstow Street on a five year lease.

    Creative agency Tunafish Media has chosen to move to Canada House to support the growth of the business and the firm is very impressed with the refurbishment plans.

    Sam Jones, Tunafish Media said:  “We’re blown away by the plans for Canada House and the timing is perfect as we’re going through a period of rapid growth as a business.  We are especially excited to get to know our new neighbours as the building fills up, I know there will be a really supportive community of like-minded businesses here.”

    The £3 million transformation of the 70,000 sq ft Canada House is well underway and last month Puma announced it would remain in the building and take an extra 3,500 sq ft so it occupies the fifth and sixth floors.

    OBI Property is sole leasing agent on Canada House and is providing project management on the transformation project to building owners LJ Partnership.  Workspace are main contractors and Zerum provided planning advice.

    Andrew Cowell, transaction and asset management, OBI Property said:  “I am delighted Tunafish is moving into Canada House.  There’s a proper buzz about Canada House, it’s building a community of occupiers who value their working environment.”

    George Haddo, LJ Partnership said: “We could not have asked for a better start to the transformation of Canada House.  It’s clear there’s a lot of love for the building and it’s great to welcome diverse yet, modern and forward thinking businesses to Canada House.”

    The work at Canada House will complete in two phases, with a range of office suites to be completed next month and the full project completed by the end of the year.

    The building’s infrastructure is being upgraded while a new cycle park will be installed in the basement, with a café, meeting space and screening room added to the ground floor.  The available office suites ranging from 250 sq ft to 9,200 sq ft on the first, second, third and fourth floors will be fully refurbished.

    This news was published by Insider.

  5. New sales channel could bring tens of millions of pounds of residential projects to site

    LDS (Landmark Development Solutions) is a new and innovative alternative sales channel for developers, offering to remove risk and help retain the rewards associated with speculative development.

    LDS will contractually underwrite entire housing schemes pre-construction, therefore removing developer’s fears around future pricing and demand. The developer is then free to market and sell its units on the open market, any sales will offer a profit share for both parties. At the end of the construction and marketing process LDS will acquire any unsold units, allowing the developer and its lender a clean exit.

    Mark Hawthorn, CEO, Landmark Investments Group said:  “We’re proud to finally bring LDS to the market.  We’ve invested a great deal in discussions with developers, lenders, lawyers and specialist advisors to shape the offering so it’s well balanced for all parties.”

    “The North West is our initial focus, however we are looking at a national roll out in the near future.  We are predominately looking at housing developments in towns and suburbs, rather than city centres and are in advanced negotiations on several sites, which should contract in the near future.

    “Our research clearly shows there is around £1,000,000,000 of qualifying stock per year in the North West alone. We believe our offering will change the way many developers are able to both fund development and sell their sites.

    “Developers are still having a hard time accessing funding, which they don’t expect to change anytime soon. Mainstream lenders, who are the best source of low cost debt, are very cautious of speculative residential development which forces developers down much more expensive channels. LDS simply removes the speculative nature and associated risk of development for lenders and developers. Once those concerns are removed developers are finding that a whole range of lending channels are opening up. We are already working closely with a number of lenders who see the clear benefit of our involvement.”

    LDS is a new division of Landmark Investments Group.  The Group comprises Landmark Investments (large owner of residential and commercial ground rents) and Landmark Collections (managing all ground rents, funds, insurance and other functions).

    This news was published by Insider.