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LIVERPOOL CITY REGION CHESTER MANCHESTER

Jan-Feb 2011

MOVE COMMERCIAL The north-west’s guide to property and business

Issue 21

GAMES GURU Chris Sheffield interview GEORGE DOWNING Future plans and projects COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AWARDS Exclusive pictures inside

www.langtreegroupplc.co.uk Mere Grange – Major new office park

ww

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Liverpool in a building Suites available from 2,000 sq ft • Open-plan, flexible and efficient floor-plates • Generous finished floor to ceiling height of 2.9m • High level of natural light • VRV/VRF heating and cooling system • Suspended ceiling • Fully accessible raised floors (150mm clear void) • PIR sensored LG7 lighting (400 lux)

The place to do business, the place to be seen...

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To let / for sale

new build industrial units 6,775 – 12,091 sq ft Knowsley

The Alchemy development is transforming bare land into one of the region’s shining commercial schemes.

93,107 sq ft have already been built with future phases to include design and build warehousing up to 300,000 sq ft together with a potential hotel and leisure related scheme.

Units benefit from the following specifications - Contemporary design - Fully fitted first floor offices including carpeting, lighting and central heating

- Heating and lighting to warehouse - Planning for B1, B2 and B8 uses

www.langtreegroupplc.co.uk/alchemy For enquiries contact:

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• Direct access to the arterial M6 & M62 • The most car-friendly place in the UK* • Within 45 minutes of two international airports & the UK’s largest Freeport zone • Within an hour’s drive of 4.3 million prospective employees & 6.8 million potential customers • A relatively low cost & costeffective location in terms of premises, house prices, & labour * 2010 Virgin Money Survey

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Issue twenty-one Move Commercial

Contents News 06 Grosvenor secures Liverpool One funding 07 Prime Minister endorses Wirral regeneration 08 Coronation Street moves to MediaCity 09 Downing eyes up Liverpool Commercial District 10 St John’s Aldi supermarket 11 High and Mighty reaches for Liverpool 15 Green light for Edge Lane plans 17 Masterplan for Manchester Science Park

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Welcome to Move Commercial s ers

With the new year many of the companies look to a year ahead of growth with Chris Sheffield looking at expansion in China to meet the growing market in gaming and mobile technology. The future is also bright for George Downing with a number of projects planned for the year ahead.

David Duvall also looks at the green economy of buildings

in Liverpool, a topic discussed in length during the lunch debate with three professionals shaping Liverpool’s green credentials. The focus looks at the big plans for the boroughs in the year ahead and our panel gives their predictions on trends for 2011.

ur

Features 13 Bitesize Thinking Food for thought 22 Your Move Property Awards Commercial property winners 28 Entrepreneur Chris Sheffield’s gaming empire 32 Rising Star Rob Thompson from Commercial Estates Group 34 Mover and Shaker Gorge Downing of Downing 37 Lunch debate Green thinking 42 Focus North West borough projects 44 Founding Father David Duvall of Denovo Design 46 Ask the Panel Trends in 2011

Key Events

07

22

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30 CLA Rub and Grub

Careers 40 Appointments Property movers and shakers

move publishing ltd Advertising Director Fiona Barnet Tel 0151 709 3871 Account Manager Jo Tait Tel 0151 709 3871 Editorial Team Dina Karim. Email: dina@movepublishing.co.uk Tel: 0151 709 3871 Emma Pinch. Email: emma@movepublishing.co.uk Tel: 0151 709 3871

Designer Rob Whyte. Email: rob@movepublishing.co.uk Published by Move Publishing Ltd Directors David O’Brien, Kim O’Brien, Fiona Barnet Printed by Precision Colour Printers Ltd Distribution Liaison Manager Barbara Troughton Tel: 0151 733 5492 Mobile: 077148 14662

Copyright Move Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Move Publishing can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers.

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News Move Commercial

Grosvenor secures Liverpool One funding

Liverpool One

The Grosvenor Liverpool Fund has secured £385m refinancing for Liverpool One. This five-year deal replaces the original funding put in place six years ago to cover both the development phase and the initial period of trading. The facility is the culmination of a competitive tendering process which has seen the arrival of Dekabank and Credit

Embassy

Agricole. It has been put in place ahead of the existing loan maturing in January 2012. Commenting on the deal, Chris Taite, Fund Manager, Grosvenor Liverpool Fund, said: “We have been in discussion with the banks since early last year to secure this refinancing, never an easy task for this size of loan, even in a strong

MOVE COMMERCIAL

Credit Agricole banks. Liverpool One has performed exceptionally since opening two years ago, despite the challenging economic climate. It is currently 98 per cent let, 51 per cent of tenants are new to Liverpool and 20 new retailers have opened in the past 12 months, including Hugo Boss, Desigual, Habitat, Hollister, Jamie’s Italian and Kuoni.

London’s Liverpool LIVERPOOL is set to do the business at the heart of the nation’s capital, as it opens its own Embassy in London.

Based at New Broad Street House - a prestigious address close to Liverpool Street and the city’s financial district – the office will promote the city’s commercial and business offer and help secure vital investment. The move follows the success of Liverpool’s presence at Shanghai World Expo 2010. The Embassy will build on the impact of the city’s Pavilion at the event; showcase the city as a competitive, international business location and present

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market. Liverpool One’s quality and demonstrable success convinced our new lenders. As I hand over to my successor as fund manager, Sarah-Jane Curtis, it is great to have such a vote of confidence in the future of the asset and the fund.”

The banks involved in the new package were Royal Bank of Scotland, Eurohypo, Dekabank and

investment and development opportunities to investors. The Liverpool Embassy is one of the first major initiatives of the city’s ‘One Plan’, a new vision for the city, which aims to draw on the strengths, resources and expertise of the public and private sector to sell the city nationally and internationally. City council leader, Councillor Joe Anderson, said: “I’m absolutely determined that, in these difficult economic times, Liverpool continues to grow, thrive and prosper.

We know, from our year as European Capital of Culture and from our recent success at Shanghai World Expo, that

people from outside the city want to do business with us. It’s more vital than ever that we do not take our foot off the accelerator and that we continue to find innovative ways of working with the private sector to secure investment and drive this city forward.” Initially open for three months, with a view to extending its term in London, the Liverpool Embassy will pave the way to a programme of linked and complementary initiatives aimed at attracting trade and investor interest and positioning Liverpool as a competitive and progressive business location.

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Move Commercial News

David Cameron endorses Wirral Waters Liverpool South Parkway

Liverpool South Parkway success Merseytravel’s awarded-winning Liverpool South Parkway interchange has seen a 50 per cent increase in passengers over the past 12 months.

This figure is set to increase further from following the decision for TransPennine Trains to stop daily offering their passengers a seamless link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and onward travel across the area and nationally. Neil Scales, Merseytravel chief executive, commented:”Liverpool South Parkway is helping to improve access to the unique attractions of Liverpool and Merseyside, as well as linking people from North and West Yorkshire to international travel via John Lennon Airport.” The stunning eco-friendly interchange, created by Merseytravel, offers a booking and passenger information office and enquiry point for bus, rail and airport journeys; a bus station and taxi rank, a high frequency bus shuttle to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and a 311 space park-and-ride car park, free to users of the facility. Leo Goodwin, commercial director for First TransPennine Express, said: “With direct trains, quick, frequent bus transfer and a choice of low-cost airlines, we‘re confident that passengers from across the Pennines will appreciate how easy it is to reach the airport. We’ll also be offering discount advance purchase rail fares to complete the package.”

Prime Minister, David Cameron, and Lord Heseltine, visited the Wirral Waters site in Birkenhead, which is set to benefit from the biggest regeneration scheme of its type anywhere in the UK. Wirral Waters will transform the economic fortunes of Wirral, the broader Liverpool City Region and the North West as a whole. The scheme will lead to the total transformation of derelict brownfield land within East Float at Birkenhead Docks.

Leader of Wirral Council, Councillor Jeff Green said: “This is the most important regeneration project in Wirral’s history and I am extremely pleased that the Prime Minister and Lord Heseltine recognise the significance of what is being achieved here through strong partnership working between Peel and the Council. Wirral Waters is an excellent example of localism in action. The Council worked very hard to bring it to fruition and it was strongly supported by the local community and businesses. I am delighted that the government showed their trust in local decisionmaking by giving this project the green light. To have the Prime Minister’s endorsement for this development is fantastic news for the people of Wirral. We will now work even harder with Peel to market the site and realise the benefits and opportunities of the scheme.” The £4.5 billion waterside redevelopment will see a complete transformation of Birkenhead Docks over 30 years. Five million square feet of office space will be available and there are also plans for a new marina and landscaped open areas of green space for public use. Peel Holdings received further good news with the Trafford Centre deal back on track following USbased Simon Property Group’s announcement it was dropping its £3bn pursuit for Capital Shopping

Centres. Simon holds a stake in CSC and opposed a CSC proposal to buy Peel's Trafford Centre with its

shares. Peel can now move forward with its proposal to sell its £1.6 billlion Trafford Centre to CSC.

Prime Minister, David Cameron and Leader of Wirral Council, Councillor Jeff Green

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News Move Commercial

City centre development site up for sale

Coronation Street move to MediaCity

Photo credit: Falconer Chester Hall

Hatton Garden

A PRIME Liverpool city centre development with planning permission on Liverpool’s Hatton Garden has been put on the market. The 0.39 acre site is situated at the junction of Hatton Garden and Great Crosshall Street and is currently operating as an industrial estate. The site is in a premium location on the fringe of the city centre, close to new student and residential developments and LJMU facilities in the immediate area. Planning permission already exists to build an eleven storey mixed use development on the site.

There are currently five industrial units on the site which is fully let and produces an annual rental of £35,150 p.a.x. with an anticipated ERV of £50,000.

Managing the site Neil Kirkham, Partner at Hitchcock Wright & Partners, commented: “This site offers a wonderful development opportunity. It is one of the last key sites available for development in this pocket of the city centre which has seen hotels, student and academic accommodation spring up in recent years.”

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MOVE COMMERCIAL

Coronation Street set

ITV is to move its Manchester-based operation, including Coronation Street, to MediaCityUK. Britain’s longest-running soap will relocate to a new state-ofthe art production facility to be built on the MediaCityUK site next to the Imperial War Museum North. ITV staff, including the ITV Granada regional news team, will take up residence in offices on the

Salford Quays side of the development in 2012. Adam Crozier, chief executive, ITV plc, said: “Coronation Street is an incredible brand and as we celebrate its 50th anniversary, it’s fantastic news that we are able to invest in the construction of a modern production centre to ensure that the nation’s best-loved soap remains at the top of its game for

another half a century.” ITV is set to build a bespoke production and studio centre for Coronation Street. ITV joins BBC North, the University of Salford, and Satellite Information Services (SIS) as key occupiers at the £650 million development.

Last month, Peel Media signed a new ten-year agreement with the BBC to deliver an enhanced range of

production and technical services at MediaCityUK. The services will be provided by a new company formed by Peel Media and SIS. MediaCity Studios Ltd will have responsibility for running the studios, post production, content and technical services at MediaCityUK to meet BBC commitments and the anticipated demands of commercial operators.

Chester HQ for mobile communications firm AWARD WINNING mobile communications experts Txtlocal has taken new offices in Chester’s Bell Meadow Business Park. The move represents a major investment in the Northwest for the UK market leaders, who have taken a five-year lease on their new offices, for the development of SMS communications tools and applications. Launched in 2005 they provide mobile communication tools in SMS, MMS, Short Code and Location Based services. The new location now provides the facilities needed to accommodate Txtlocal’s ever-growing team of developers, customer relationship managers and

senior managers. Tom Creer of BA Commercial who represents Bell

Meadow Business Park handled the property deal on behalf of Txtlocal.

Darren Daws, Managing Director of Txtlocal

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Move Commercial News

Downing eyes up Liverpool Commercial District refurbishment, as well as the office’s fantastic location close to the universities and cultural quarter, will ensure that 5 Myrtle Street attracts strong interest. The fact we are willing to sell or lease should also appeal to occupiers. We’re committed to the development of Liverpool’s commercial district and,

with the majority of our commercial portfolio based here, relocating will allow us to be closer to our tenants supporting the work of our in-house management teams.”

For more information about 5 Myrtle Street, please contact Robin Ellis at Downing on 0151 707 2666 or email offices@downing.com

Myrtle Street

Wirral’s Commerce Park is now full MASON OWEN has announced the letting of the final and largest trade counter unit at Commerce

Commerce Park

Ei8ht Water Street

Water Street prospect Photo credit: McCoy Wynne

DOWNING has announced plans to relocate to Liverpool’s commercial district as it puts its headquarters on the market. The company, Liverpool’s largest commercial landlord, intends to relocate to one of its six properties in the commercial district later this year.

The property group’s 7,413 sq ft office, located just off Hope Street on Myrtle Street, is available for sale or lease. Downing refurbished the 19th century building to provide very high quality open-plan and flexible offices, meeting rooms, reception and kitchen on the ground floor. The lower ground floor provides further offices, storage, a gymnasium, steam room and shower facilities and there are also 27 secure on-site parking spaces. The offices are available to rent or purchase. Four selfcontained student apartments, which are located above the office suites and currently produce £82,896 per annum, are also available for sale. Ann Lodge, chief executive of Downing, said: “We’re confident that the quality of the

Park, Birkenhead, to national flooring retailer Floors-2-Go on a ten-year lease. Floors2-Go joins local business

Clifton Bathrooms alongside national trade counter operators Tool Station and City Plumbing Supplies, which are both part of the Travis Perkins Group.

Following Mason Owen’s recent letting of 5,000 sq ft of office accommodation to Wirralbiz SPS Ltd, the Floors2-go signing means that the successful business park is now at full occupancy. The development, owned by Chainbid Limited, consists of over 40,000 sq ft in mixed use commercial accommodation and is

located less than one mile away from Birkenhead town centre and the Birkenhead tunnel. Paul Thorne of Mason Owen’s business premises team said: “We are delighted to have completed the letting of the last remaining unit at Commerce Park to such a high profile occupier who we feel complements the rest of the tenant line up. This business park has been highly successful due to its excellent transport links and prominence to the A41 New Chester Road.”

LETTING AGENTS Hitchcock Wright & Partners and Matthews and Goodman have announced a radical new letting strategy for 8 Water Street situated in the heart of Liverpool’s central business District. The new strategy offers flexible lease terms from as little as 2 - 3 years and at headline rents of only £9.75 per square foot exclusive. 8 Water Street has undergone a recent £500,000 transformation by owners Threadneedle. Fully refurbished office suites are available ranging in size from 4,000 to 36,000 sq ft that have raised floor access, suspended ceilings, category II lighting and are fully carpeted throughout. Brian Ricketts of Hitchcock Wright & Partners said: “Our clients Threadneedle have decided to really take the bull by the horns and bring a remarkable and unprecedented deal to the market which reflects exactly what tenants are looking for in the current uncertain economic climate.

These terms are a bargain especially considering the incredible specification which the building now offers and in my opinion are unparalleled in the city”.

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News Move Commercial

St Johns’ Supermarket First ALDI has become the first supermarket to open at Liverpool’s St Johns Shopping Centre.

The new 24,000 sq ft ground floor store opened in the spot formerly occupied by Woolworths after the budget chain agreed a 10 year lease.

Aldi has created more than 15 jobs with the store launch and adds the St Johns branch to its existing six stores on Merseyside, including Smithdown Road, Prescot Road and the Thornton site. James Larmuth,

portfolio manager at Land Securities, which is the owner of St Johns Market, said: “This is a massive coup for St Johns. “Aldi leads the way in terms of offering quality value products on the high street and we're really excited to have them within the portfolio especially as they've opened within such a prime location on Elliot Street.” Aldi has already taken space at the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester and the move is seen as

part of a strategy by the discount retailer to boost its presence in town centre locations to help compete with rival convenience stores including Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local. Land Securities plans a £100m revamp of the Liverpool shopping centre, which it sees as one of its best performing shopping centres in Britain. The redevelopment plan includes 180,000 sq ft of new space. It is expected to be completed by 2013.

Boodles’ Asian Jewel Liverpool jeweller to open in Hong Kong BOODLES, the Liverpoolbased jewellers founded in 1798, has confirmed it is set to open an Asian branch.

The new venture, destined for Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford department store comes shortly after they opened a branch in the Savoy Hotel, London.

They have opened in the Front Hall of the hotel following its high profile restoration.

The Hong Kong outlet will become Boodles’ 10th branch, adding to the five London branches, plus Chester, Manchester, Dublin and its flagship Liverpool store. The retailer is also planning to launch its own online store early next year.

Aldi supermarket, St Johns Shopping Centre

New Eateries for Central Village TWO LEADING restaurant chains have signed up to open at Merepark’s six-acre Central

Central Villiage

10 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Villiage development behind Liverpool Central Station, Renshaw Street and Bold Street.

Mexican restaurant Chiquito will trade from 5,000 sq ft premises and American-Italian diner Frankie & Benny's will occupy 4,400 sq ft at the Boardwalk building that will also contain an Odeon cinema. It is hoped that Central Village will create around 3,000 jobs for the city by the time of completion, scheduled for 2013.

Ian Jones, director at Merepark, said: “It's always been our intention to create a high-quality scheme with widespread appeal.

These lettings show that Central Village is an attractive proposition, capable of bringing new restaurant and leisure operators into the city.” Pre-lets in place include Accor, Q-Park and Millennium & Copthorne. Savills and CBRE are joint leisure agents for Central Village.

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Move Commercial News

High and Mighty Reaches for Liverpool From London to Liverpool

High and Mighty store

SPECIALIST retailer High and Mighty has opened a new store in Liverpool’s Williamson Street.

The chain, which supplies big and

tall clothing, is undergoing an expansion programme, with Liverpool the first of 11 new stores opening across the country, taking it

Betting on Liverpool GROSVENOR Casinos has opened its third UK electronic casino venture, in Liverpool city centre.

The 2,700 sq ft outlet opened at 2830 Ranelagh Street following a £1.3m investment, Grosvenor Casinos said.

The venue offers 14 electronic roulette machines, a poker table and

from 14 to 25 outlets.

Following its acquisition by JD Williams in September 2009 High and Mighty stores are benefiting

from a £1 milllion revamp.

The new-look stores offer a range of well-known brands, such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.

Poundland Opens in Speke

18 jackpot slot machines with £4,000 jackpots.

All gaming machines operate via a ticket in/ticket out system and payouts are via a ticket that can be fed back into the machine or redeemed at the end of the night.

Open until 4am at weekends, it employs 13 members of staff.

Poundland exterior

Grosvenor Casinos

BARGAIN shop Poundland has created up to 30 new jobs with the opening of a new store in Speke.

The new store occupies a 3,050 sq ft unit at Speke Retail Park The West Midlands-based chain,

Europe’s biggest single price discount retailer, It operates more than 300 stores nationwide selling a selection of products priced at £1 each, including brands such as Heinz, Colgate, Pepsi and Kodak.

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Available May 2011

Liverpool’s fab office building St Paul’s Square is Liverpool's first speculatively constructed BREEAM "EXCELLENT" office building and when completed in May 2011 will comprise an 8 storey Grade A office building extending to a net internal floor area of 109,000 sq ft with floorplates ranging from 10,800 sq ft 14,155 sq ft in the heart of Liverpool’s new Commercial District.

A development by

4 more information

Ian.Steele@gvagrimley.co.uk

Supported By

mark.worthington@cbre.com

BREEAM “EXCELLENT”

www.no4stpaulssquare.com

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Move Commercial Bitesize thinking

&

Home Away Chris Connor, director at property agent Mason Owen, was tasked with choosing his favourite building in the UK and abroad to share with Move Commercial readers.

The Royal Liver Building

FAVOURITE BUILDINGS

Bryan Glendinning, Commercial Director for Warmer Heating

Chris Connor, director at property agent Mason Owen

He said: “My favourite building in Britain is the Royal Liver Building. In my opinion it’s most beautiful of the Three Graces and one of the most recognisable landmarks in the UK. The history and mythology appeal to me.

The Liver Birds are supposed to watch over the city, and the clock faces were built bigger than those of Big Ben, and illuminated at night, so mariners could see the time.

Further afield Florence’s majestic Duomo made an impression.

“I’m fortunate enough to have been there three times now and I see something different every time,” he said. “The large brick dome remains the largest ever built and considering work begun in 1292, the skills and construction are breathtaking. It almost compels you to be become religious!”

Bryan Glendinning

If only I’d known….

Duomo

Buzzword ‘TWENTY-ELEVEN’ Saying the words Two Thousand in a date is just so last year. Twenty Eleven trills off the tongue so much more smoothly than stodgy old Two Thousand And Eleven. Try it.

It imparts the pleasing sense we’re all far too busy whizzing to work on jet packs and drinking liquid dinners out of Nasa pouches

to bother with saying the date longhand.

Anyway last century it was 19-this, 19-that, and we’re already down with the whole Twenty Twelve thing, thanks to our totally funky Olympic bid – so it’s high time this year got with the programme.

20-11. It’s the future.

….How hard it would be to pick up the habit of studying after a few years have gone by. I’m trying to study for an MBA in my spare time, and at the same time set up the infrastructure for new companies. How I wish I had done it immediately after I completed my first post grad qualification in 2002 in management studies.

You get out of the habit of studying and the language of academia incredibly quickly.

I’m also relearning some business techniques that I’d all but forgotten; things that would have come in useful over the past eight years.

Vital statistics

In my crystal ball… …Renewable energy is going to become huge over the next decade – both commercially and in the home.

Supply of energy is going to be critical for the UK. Last year for the first time since the 30s Britain imported more gas than it produced. It’s a serious situation.

The Government is incentivising the adoption of PV panels and city investors are putting up cash for people to install them.

I believe that by 2020 most homes will be equipped with some sort of renewable energy, probably photo voltaic panels or ground source heat pumps.

26 percent

The proportion of Small to Medium Enterprises planning a recruitment drive for 2011. The survey, by telecoms company Orange, found another 65 per cent intend to keep staff figures the same. The study said some 76 per cent of companies predict either the same level of success or a more prosperous year than 2010.

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News Move Commercial

Green light for Edge Lane plans A £200 MILLION revamp of Liverpool’s Edge Lane retail park is on track to start this month. Derwent Holdings, which owns the retail park and a number of sites on the dual carriageway, has received planning permission to create a 600,000 sq ft shopping park at the gateway site.

The developer has said if planning permission was secured for the 890,000 sq ft site work would start right away. The scheme encompasses 47 retail units, four restaurants and three leisure units along with 1,680 parking spaces. Talks about the scale and configuration of the retail park, on an important route into the city centre from the M62, have been going on between the council and Gubay for over a decade. Steve Burne, AEW's managing director, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have received this decision after years of hard work from the team.

This is a very significant project for the region at a time of continuing uncertainty and we are looking forward to delivering the first phase as soon as possible." John Taylor, from Derwent Holdings, said the first thing the company will do if planning permission is granted is remove the “grot-spots” blighting Edge Lane. “We are ready to start straight away. The £200m is allocated,” he said. As part of the

wider regeneration strategy, Derwent has agreed to provide a site for an extension to Mersey Care’s mental health facility at Rathbone Hospital,

CONSTRUCTION has begun on five new commercial laboratories at Liverpool Science Park. Costing £660,000 the new bio labs are being built on the ground floor of LSP’s Innovation Centre 2 office block on Mount Pleasant. The five 1,000 sq ft labs are scheduled to open by the end of the spring. LSP’s offer has already

current semi-derelict Rathbone.

Once the four-year build is complete the site will provide work for 2,000 people.

Edge Lane retail park CGI

Formula for growth at LSP Liverpool Science Park

which was given planning permission last year. The developer will also construct a larger Victorian-style park to replace the

been boosted with the go-ahead for a multi million pound four storey IC3 block of labs. It will link to IC1 by a two-storey bridge. A public and private funding package is expected to be in place by March 2011.

Professor Michael Brown CBE, vice chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University and chairman of Liverpool Science Park, said: “Liverpool excels in the field of life sciences and these new laboratories will provide the perfect environment for this sector to continue to flourish.” LSP is home ot 48 companies and is owned by Liverpool University, Liverpool John Moores and Liverpool City Council.

Dobbies’ plans bear fruit PLANS for an £8 million Dobbies Garden World are set to come to fruition this year after the company received the go ahead from Liverpool City Council. The store, covering 8.78 acres will be built on an access road to John Lennon airport in Speke on land purchased from Peel Land and Property Ltd. Final approval by the Government Office for the North West is now pending. Stuart Wright, Dobbies' director of property, said: "Following the GONW finalisation, we plan to open our doors to

customers in Liverpool during the 2011/2012 financial year and we look forward to planning for construction to start.” Sustainability will be at the heart of the development. It will incorporate the use of recycled rainwater and be built from renewable materials. Its landscaped display areas will feature 10,000 plants, shrubs and trees, a specialist aquatics department, a restaurant and farm food hall and workshops by visiting horticultural experts. The site will create 120 jobs for Speke.

Dobbie Garden World CGI, Speke MOVE COMMERCIAL 15

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FOR SALE/TO LET V7, KINGS BUSINESS PARK, KNOWSLEY PRESTIGIOUS GRADE A OFFICE BUILDING

FROM UP TO 7,000 SQ FT 34,055 SQ FT

188 CAR PARKING SPACES

16 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Further details are available through the joint agents:Mark Worthington CBRE E: Mark.worthington@cbre.com T: 0151 471 4971

Andrew Owen Mason Owen E: andrew.owen@masonowen.com T: 0151 242 3120

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Move Commercial News

Masterplan for Manchester Science Park ARCHITECT John McAslan + Partners has been appointed to draw up a masterplan to expand Manchester Science Park and forge new connections with the city centre. The masterplan will reshape the existing site to create 250,000 sq ft of new floor space for innovative companies such as digital media, biotechnology and

IT. The plans will almost double the facility’s commercial space.

Architects will deliver plans for seven new buildings plus an open public space to function as a meeting point for academics and visitors. MSP occupies a prominent 9.3-hectare corridor site between the University of Manchester and Hulme. Tony Skipper, managing

director of John McAslan + Partners, said: “Over the next few years, we will see Manchester Science Park become a much bigger part of city life. We are delighted to be working on such a prominent scheme that will reshape the ways in which Manchester’s leading institutions and resources will interlink and collaborate.”

New shops on Dunlop Heywood’s list Dunlop Heywood receive instructions for The Strand

Manchester Science Park CGI

Wigan offices on the market PROPERTY CONSULTANT GL Hearn has been instructed by Telereal Trillium to dispose of one of the largest office schemes in Wigan. Located at the junction of

Bridgeman Terrace and New Market Street the scheme, called Mesnes House, comprises three floors and a single storey section, which brings the total of open

Mesnes House

plan and private office accommodation to 13,135 sq ft.

The building is within close proximity to the town centre and public transport system and retail facilities, and easily accessible from both the M6 and the M61.

It is available to purchase on a long leasehold basis.

Tracy Dougan, corporate assistant surveyor at GL Hearn said: “Mesnes House is strategically situated close to Thomas Linacre Outpatient Centre and Wigan and Leigh College, making it an ideal location for an organisation working within the healthcare sector. Telereal Trillium is taking a flexible approach to marketing Mensnes House and will consider enquiries for part of the building as well as for the whole scheme.”

RATINGS AGENCY Dunlop Heywood reports it has secured seven new instructions at shopping centres across the North West. ING Real Estate Investment Management (UK)'s Britannica Fund has appointed Dunlop Heywood at The Strand Shopping Centre, Bootle; Church Square Shopping Centre, St Helens, and The Spindles Shopping Centre in Oldham. The new sites join Dunlop Heywood's expanding shopping centre portfolio which already includes: The Trafford Centre, Manchester; Albert Square, Widnes; The Peel Centre, Blackburn; Peel Retail Park, Stockport and Trafford Retail Park, Manchester.

"We are one of the few property consultancies that have continued to expand steadily throughout 2010 and we recently opened our new property and asset management division with teams based in both Manchester and Leeds," said Stuart Hicks, who set up the firm in 2008.

Other new instructions came from the Co-Operative Group, Peel Holdings, Blackpool International Airport, Newcastle International Airport, Craegmoor Healthcare and Greenwoods Menswear.

Hicks said the firm is looking to recruit two more people to add to the seven staff in Manchester.

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MSB Commercial • Corporate Property and Litigation Services • Commercial Contract Advice and Drafting • Company Formations and Structure • Acquisitions and Disposals • Shareholder Agreements • Director Service Contracts • Employment Law and Contracts Call MSB Solicitors on 0151 281 9040 paulbibby@msbsolicitors.co.uk MSB Solicitors, Liverpool city centre office, 13th Floor Silkhouse Court, Tithebarn Street, L2 2LZ www.msbsolicitors.co.uk

To let 1,500 - 3,000 sq ft

Wellington Employment Park South

Dunes Way (off Sandhills Lane), Liverpool, L5 9RJ • Good accessibility close to M62 and North west • Good parking circulation areas • Monitored CCTV system

• Gas central heating to offices • High quality industrial units • Located in the North Liverpool Docks area

To find out more about this site visit www.langtreegroupplc.co.uk/wellingtonemploymentparksouth

18 MOVE COMMERCIAL

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INTERNATIONAL HOUSE Liverpool International Business Park

TO LET/MAY SELL

8,294-25,877 SQFT (770-2,403 SQM)

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WATER STREET

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By Dina Karim dina@movepublishing.co.uk

SPONSORED BY

The seventh annual Your Move Property Awards 2010 took place in the heart of Liverpool One, in The Hilton hotel. The prestigious evening celebrated the achievements of property developers and agents, investors and housing associations, who have made an impact on the cityscape and its people in the past year. The awards were sponsored by Riverside Home Ownership and the night was compered by comedian Chris Cairns.

Property Awards 2010 Move Commercial Award for Best Commercial Scheme

David Duvall, Director at Denovo Design We were thrilled to receive the news that our Liverpool City Centre project - Jack Jones House, (formerly the TGWU building), had been nominated for not one but two Your Move Property Awards 2010!

Entry criteria - Office, hotel, leisure, industrial or mixed - Commercial viability of the scheme - Design excellence - Aesthetics - Suitability to end use and needs of customers - Use of space and materials - Sensitivity architecturally in its approach

Lesley Martin-Wright chief executive at Knowsley Chamber of Commerce presents David Duvall, Denovo Design with their award.

Runner up Commercial Estates Group for South Harrington offices.

ASSOCIATED SPONSORS

K S

Interior Design

SKYLINE PROPERTY SOLUTIONS LIMITED

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Property Awards 2010 Key event

Move Commercial Award for Best Office/ Workspace Development sponsored by MSB Solicitors

Antonia Martin-Wright, of Commercial Estates Group CEG are thrilled to win this prestigious award. South Harrington Building has been a huge success over the past 12 months, with over 83% of the building occupied within this short time. The combination of contemporary flare with historic dockside features such as the original loading winches and gantry, sets this building apart. Many thanks to everyone who was involved with creating such a bespoke product and to Move Commercial for rewarding our efforts.

Entry criteria - Commercial viability - Design and layout - Architectural design of scheme - Environmental consideration - Specification of communal areas

Paul Bibby, MSB Solicitors with Rob Thompson, and Antonia Martin-Wright, Commercial Estates Group.

Best Property Law Firm sponsored by Downing

Runners up Downing for Capital, Langtree for Connect Business Park, Denovo Design for Jack Jones House and Rumford Investments for 20 Chapel Street.

Move Commercial Landlord of the Year Award sponsored by Skyline Property Solutions

Paul Bibby, managing partner of MSB solicitors I am thrilled that MSB have won the property law firm of the year award for the second year running. The evening itself was thoroughly enjoyable and faultlessly organised.

Entry criteria - Independently assessed by mystery shoppers and thorough analytical research Runner up JST Lawyers.

John Clegg, Robin Ellis, Peter Keppie, Downing and Ellis Hill, Skyline Property Solutions.

Robin Ellis, Senior Agency Surveyor of Downing It’s been a good year for Downing. We’ve done one or two nice deals and we’ve missed one or two as well - it’s nice to be recognised as a decent landlord so thank you very much.

Entry criteria - Commercial landlord which has secured the best commercial lease in terms of price, tenant, commercial facilities and specification offered and investment growth in the area

MSB Solicitors receiving their award.

Runner up Liverpool Science Park.

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Your move Property Business of the Decade sponsored by Kingston Shaw

Ann Lodge, joint chief executive of Downing Winning these two awards has capped a fantastic year for us and is testament to the hard work of the entire Downing team across our Liverpool portfolio. We remain committed to the city and will continue to invest in the long-term futures of all of our buildings.

Entry criteria - Outstanding and continued performance - Ability to adapt to the market changes - Strong commercial performance Runners up Keppie Massie and Sutton Kersh who both received special commendations for outstanding work in the sector.

John Clegg, Robin Ellis and Peter Keppie, Downing with Kate Kingston, Kingston Shaw.

Stuart Keppie, Keppie Massie recieving special commendation from Kim O’Brien

Your Move Entrepreneur Award sponsored by The Design Foundry

Phil Warren, managing director of Warmer Heating Ltd Absolutely delighted to have won this year’s Your Move Entrepreneur award for 2010, it has been a fantastic achievement for everyone involved with Warmer Heating ltd. We’re moving to our new premises in the new year, to deliver our new contracts and maximise our expansion plans for 2011.

Entry criteria - Outstanding individual - Vision and leadership - Identification of market opportunity - Ability to organise and apply resources required - Strong commercial performance Runners up Kate Lay of MPA and Mike Black of Blacks Estate Agents who both received special commendations for outstanding work in the sector.

Phil Warren, Warmer Heating with David Al-Hadithi, The Design Foundry.

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Property Awards 2010 Key event

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1. John Brown, Knight Frank. 2. Kim O’Brien, Your Move and Sharon Armor, Waddicar Properties. 3. Adam Hall, Falconer, Chester Hall. 4. David Duvan, Denovo Design.

5. Lesley Martin-Wright. 6. Vicki Burton and Stephen Hogg, King Sturge. 7. Alex Lewis, Portside House Ltd and letting agent Sue Taylor, Keppie Massie. 8. Lesley and Antonia Martin-Wright. 9. Darleen Lee and Chris Cairns, compere.

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1. Danny Mannix on keyboards, Mike Harvey on drums, Paul Taft on guitar and Dan Patricks vocals. 2. Elaine Cunningham announces a winner. 3. Paul Bibby and guests.

4. Robin Ellis, Downing. 5. Law firm, MSB Solicitors. 6. Knowsley Chamber of Commerce. 7. Phil Warren, Warmer Heating collects his award.

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Property Awards 2010 Key event

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8. Paul Bibby present Commercial Estate Group with their award. 9. We’ve won! 10. Steve Lout, Integrated Building Management Group, Mike Ryder, Purple Apple Management, Phil Miller, Latham Miller Construction. 11. Downing accept their award. 12. Kim and David O’Brien and Fiona Barnet, Move Publishing. 13. Ged Massie of Keppie Massie. 14. The stage is set. 15. Jim Spencer, Spencer Holdings. 16. A mysterious dancer.

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By Dina Karim dina@movepublishing.co.uk

At what point do you think, ‘this is it I’ve made it’. When traffic clears to let your car past as if you were an ambassador? When your first company sells for £80 million? None of these things seems to matter much to Chris Sheffield whose career highlight is hearing his invention reverse auction mentioned on the radio.

With his first company Eunite becoming a massive success within a year, a decade on the Manchester-based entrepreneur is at the forefront of new technology and social media. He has identified huge potential in developing companies in China as well as on his doorstep supporting The Sharp Project in Manchester.

Games Guru

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2-1 worked with Vodafone and 02 which has 15 million customers each.

China Mobile has 580 million customers, and the way they use technology is more advanced than over here.

It’s very difficult to raise money here but in China it’s growing so quickly it’s unbelievable. Facebook and Twitter is banned in China, but an operation called Ren Ren which is a total copy of Facebook has 120 million customers. So there’s a huge opportunity to take models from the West over to China but they do use technology differently. Only 25 per cent of people have access to the internet, but literally everyone has a mobile phone.

The opportunity in China works both ways, taking western models over there and bringing it back but the only way to do it is to work with Chinese businesses because you can face problems with the government and securing permits, so I had to

work as part of a conglomerate.”

Chris started as at Deloitte where he spent 11 years as an IT consultant just as the world woke up to the

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The potential in China in social media on mobile technology is unbelievable.

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With just over a decade striking out on his own, Chris Sheffield is still as busy as when he first started his businesses. We meet at the Malmaison Hotel in Piccadilly, Manchester, where in between business meetings he has secured me an interview, days before his big business trip to China where he will spend time developing his new project.

A serial entrepreneur, the conglomerate in China, CRE8IVE Group, of which he is Senior Vice President, is the latest venture from a man always looking at new markets for digital technology. Less than a year since the conglomerate was formed, he is widely considered an important contact in the East, with cars parting like a sea when his number plates roll past. Chris tells me why he took the big decision to work in the East. “The potential in China in social media on mobile technology is unbelievable. Million-

internet boom. Many of his clients were interested in those first internet ventures and a lot of money was

available for them.

Following the creation of a successful internet strategy for a big sports operator, he left Deloitte to co-found Sportal, which focused on the development and operation of sports-based web sites and online communities working with sporting franchises such as Juventus.

“It was a typical dot-com business and I got a lot of experience out of that. However, after 18 months I decided to set up my own business so I took a huge risk and sold everything I had; my flat, my car and moved to Manchester where I lived on friend’s floors and I set up Eunite.”

Eunite was an internet startup business funded by 3i, which rapidly became one of the biggest internet production companies in the UK. What made Eunite unique was its regional presence, no one else was doing what the company offered in the North West: building websites,

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Chris Sheffield Entrepreneur

ecommerce and egaming for companies such as Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC to Toys-R-Us. Within 60 weeks, the company sold for £80 million to mail order company M Brown. Following two years of integration, in 2003 Chris took just one day off before diving into his new venture Million 2 1, the UK's leading mobile gaming business with over two million customers in the UK. “I figured that in the future phones were going to get a lot more sophisticated. I envisaged iPhones before they came out because at that time it was obvious that was going to happen. What always happens first in technology is pornography, that’s what happened on the internet, I wasn’t going to do that, and the second thing is gambling.

So we set up a business for gambling on your mobile phone which was seven years ago when no one else had thought about it and you couldn’t do much else with phones at the time. I invented something called reverse auction which is still the number one phone application, it’s gone huge around the world, we did deals with talksport, radio stations, with ITV, and it really took off.”

After six years Million-2-1 was sold to IGT, the industry's leading manufacturer of gaming machines, for an undisclosed, yet large profit.

Work never stopped for Chris but after a decade he felt it was time to give something back and became involved in The Sharp Project in Manchester as a venture capitalist.

“The Sharp Project is a fantastic facility for media and creative industries offering contemporary office space. I was lucky I worked at Deloittes so I understand funding and accounting but now it’s very hard to raise funds.”

With limited funds available for 18 to 30 year olds, Chris was aware of the problems they encountered when raising start-up funds. “ “I don’t just invest money, I also facilitate partnerships and deals. So I’ve taken offices out there to help find the next ‘googles’ and ‘youtubes’ and betting companies of the future.”

The future for Chris is supporting regional digital technology start-ups and entrepreneurially building his presence in China’s rapidly growing economy.

Sheffield file DOB: 28 Oct 1966 Eduation: Preston Polytechnic, business and technology degree.

“Money definitely doesn’t drive me because if you focus on money then you lose sight of the business. I invented the reverse auction concept (How Lo) which has become a worldwide phenomenon and I

invented that in the bath one night.

I’m a geek basically, I’ve got every single gadget you can imagine, my living room has five laptops in it and I’m a big Xbox gamer. I absolutely love technology.”

Companies: Senior Vice President at China Resources & Investment Vehicle Ltd, Chairman of theEword, entrepreneur of Instant Hit Ltd, Founder of Million-2-1, Founder of Eunite, Co founder of Sportal.

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CLA relaxation evening Key events

By Dina Karim dina@movepublishing.co.uk

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Rub and Grub Condy Lofthouse Architects held their annual ‘Rub and Grub’ evening for their staff and clients at their offices in Connect Business Village, on Derby Road. The unique evening of relaxation combined a sumptuous spread from Signature Cafe with a relaxing massage from Just Human. The evening also showcased the company’s architectural achievements and their current projects.

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1. Andy Armstrong (CLA Director), Greg Newton (Douglas Fairless) and Greg Phillips (CLA). 2. Ron White (CLA Director), Suzanne Waggnett (Worksharp) and Phil Helm (Simply Housing). 3. Neil Jones (Cosmopoliton), Barry Bartlett (CLA Director), Dave Duncalf (Tweeds) and Mike Turner (Lovell). 4. Jo Phipson (Santander), Diana Bond & Bertram Hall (Glazehall Healthcare Consultants). 5. Ron White (CLA Director), Colin Vallance-Owen (I-Care Group) and Andy Armstrong (CLA Director). 6. Peter March (CLA Director), Mike Harlow (Alternative Futures), Rick Tarver (Knight Frank) and Richard Maude (CLA). 7. Barry Bartlett (CLA Director) and Keith Cawdron (Jospice).

8. Brenda Summerlin and Jan Borrows (CLA). 9. Condy Lofthouse. 10. Masseurs from Just Human.

10

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For Liverpool offices

Better deal with Downing Happy New Year! At Downing we recognise that mutually trusting relationships with our occupiers – old and new – reap rewards for both parties. That’s why everyone we do business with can be assured that they will be treated politely and with absolute integrity.

So make new space your new year’s resolution and talk to us first.

Offices from 200-100,000sqft WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE FLEXIBILITY OF EASY-INEASY-OUT MONTHLY TERMS OR A LONGER LEASE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

Call Robin Ellis on 0151 707 2666 or email offices@downing.com

www.downing.com

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By Emma Pinch emma@movepublishing.co.uk

Commercial Estates Group (CEG) won Best Commercial Office Scheme at the Your Move Property Awards for South Harrington Building at Brunswick Business Park.

They are the company behind a slew of high grade office refurbishments in Liverpool and Rob Thompson is the man managing them. He explains what drives him.

The thrill of the deal

32 MOVE COMMERCIAL

selling, when other people are selling we are buying.

“It’s how the market is - there have been some high profile casualties. We look for opportunities.”

Key to exploiting opportunities that come along is the old fashioned art of striking a good hard deal.

And that suits Rob, 39, down to the ground. He joined CEG’s Harrogate office three and a half

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run property investment company called Towngate Plc in West Yorkshire.

Rob’s remit at CEG, he says “encompasses just about everything property related, from lettings, lease renewals, rent reviews, refurbishments redevelopment, disposal and acquisitions of the properties”. He caught the property bug during the boom time of 1986-7.

“When I got into it was a growth

most straightforward deals are the best.”

In Liverpool assets he manages include Raleigh House, 60 Old Hall Street, Kingsway House, South Harrington Buildings in Brunswick, Silkhouse Court and Hatton Gardens.

The Kenmore acquisition included 196 Deansgate, Jackson House, Gateway House, Bromborough, Puma Court, Knowlsey, Stuart Road Runcorn,

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All things considered CEG has had a pretty good year.

After battening down the hatches early when it sensed stormy times ahead, in April 2007, not only has the property management and investment group weathered the storm, but it’s steaming forward.

The secret, said asset manager Rob Thompson, is knowing the right moment to strike out against the tide.

Formed in 1989 Commercial Estates Group manages, invests and develops property into office, residential, industrial, retail and mixed use space, with properties worth a capital value of around £682million and land investments worth about £100 million.

Rob looks after assets in the North West totalling about £80 million. The strategy, he explains, is daringly entrepreneurial.

“We pulled out of purchasing in April 2007 but in September 2010 we purchased 23 assets from the Kenmore portfolio from the administrators,” he said.

“Being quite a low key company we go against the market. When other people are buying we are

Being quite a low key company we go against the market. When other people are buying we are selling, when other people are selling we are buying.

years ago. Halifax born and bred he stumbled into the property business after getting a job with a building firm after his A Levels – and realised he’d found his niche.

He went on to study Land Management at Leicester Polytechnic then took up jobs at the surveying arm of Northern Trust in Surrey and at a family

market with plenty of opportunity, and that was attractive,” he said.

“I love it because it’s a people led business and there are lots of characters.

“At the core it’s the thrill of the deal, buying and selling properties. That’s what drives me.

“A lot of people complicate deals.

Every deal is different, but the

and Chestergates.

Being able to adapt to current trading conditions has been vital.

“The amount of available supply is making it a tenants market,” he explained. In Liverpool there’s a surplus from a lack of new companies coming in and the spending review will make it more difficult.

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Rob Thompson, Commercial Estates Group Rising Star Award winning offices CEG won Best Commercial Office Scheme at the Your Move Property Awards for South Harrington Buildings at Brunswick Business Park (for more coverage see page 23).

A rolling refurb saw 120,000 sq ft of former dockside warehouse transformed into light, airy space housing offices, reception and services, while characterful features like original brick walls were preserved.

Said Rob: “The brickwork was left exposed so it still had a dock side warehouse feeling about it and the tenants really liked the space.

The design, the flexibility of space and colour schemes all worked.”

They worked closely with new tenants Vitaflow to put in bespoke laboratories and testing areas for the nutritional products they specialise in, with space and facilities for ambitious growth plans.

Other tenants at South Harrington Buildings include Kirwans solicitors and New Mind Internet Consultancy.

“Adaptions have been the reduction in rents, and rent free periods; it’s a much more competitive market at the moment.

“You have to continually improve services because the market is demanding it. Everyone is increasing their specifications. It’s all Grade A stuff. Raising floors, comfort cooling, adding to customer service. We have a presence on every site.”

Whether it’s the client determining the shape of the light fittings to a

super speedy face to face decision, flexibility has underpinned every deal.

As it will when Rob tackles the next item on his to do list – a refurbishment of 60 Old Hall Street.

It’s the last undeveloped property on Old Hall Street and its blank canvas potential ignites his enthusiasm.

“It will be a private headquarters building with its own front door for a tenant,” he said. “The only competition is multi-let buildings. If you want your own address on Old

Hall Street and a bespoke HQ it’s an exciting opportunity. We are looking for a business to move in and we would work with them on the whole design – layout, lifts, and services.”

The company purchased the site some time ago. It’s a reflection of their optimism about the future that they’ve decided now is the time to act.

“We knew it was time to do something with it,” he said. “If we’d finished it now it would be a very expensive place to live, but in two

years it will become a much more successful development, because the market will have recovered sufficiently. The market will come back.”

So what’s on the horizon, if the business climate continues to improve?

“After the success of Brunswick we might look at phase two of it,” revealed Rob. “We’ve got another couple of acres we could go and build another similar success on.”

Watch that space.

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By Dina Karim dina@movepublishing.co.uk

Downing scooped two awards at the Your Move Property Awards for best commercial landlord and property business of the decade.

The future is Downing

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fortune and then, wham, the economy fell off the side of a mountain.

It’s not just about profit, it’s about pride for us, there’s been no money in some of the restoration we did on the Port of Liverpool Building, we went beyond the call of duty and we always treat that building as its custodians.”

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We really need to keep plugging away, for example going to China for the Expo, it might seem to some like a waste of money but if you don’t buy the lottery ticket you can’t win the money.

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Scandinavian Hotel, one of Liverpool’s most prominent disused buildings, is one of those edifices people look at longingly wondering when, if ever, it will be restored.

Following a Compulsory Purchase Order in 2007 Liverpool City Council sold the site to developers Downing.

However what was meant to be the jewel in the crown of the Chinese Quarter regeneration soon fell victim to the property crash and economic collapse. Plans have now been submitted to Liverpool City Council for the hotel which includes a lounge, bar and restaurant with 180 bedrooms on the upper floor.

Catching up with George Downing at the company headquarters on Myrtle Street, on the site of the first piece of land he ever bought, he revealed the latest chapter.

“When we haven’t been able to develop anything we get upset because it’s not in our game plan to buy something just to sit on it,” he said. “Scandinavian Hotel has at last potentially got a client following a deal with an out of town developer we have done all we can to facilitate a deal which will hopefully allow the development of a Marriot Courtyard Hotel.

The hotel is in a beautiful location, and Liverpool’s China Town is a great community. The Scandinavian Hotel could be something that kickstarts another round of regeneration - we’ve got boxes of development appraisals we’ve done and appraised drawings. It cost us a

It is that pride in the company’s work that puts Downing ahead of other developers, that makes it a leading business when it comes to shaping Liverpool’s and the North’s cityscape. A pioneer in every sense George Downing began his business when he was 17. Now with over £500 million of mixed-use schemes

under active development, and around one million sq ft of commercial buildings under their ownership and management, Downing is one of the North West’s leading property groups. Recalling his early days, he said: “Around the city centre there were lots of houses that were suitable for student accommodation. The value of the houses was less than the scrap value, you could knock them down and sell the bricks off for the value of the house.”

Taking a gamble that students were willing to pay extra for living in the city centre he bought land to build the city’s first city centre student village, Cambridge Court. As a central figure in Liverpool’s regeneration the company claims a number of feathers to its cap, not least the Port of Liverpool Building and The Capital. “We made the Port of Liverpool Building sustainable for another generation and that was very tricky to do because it was a live office building with tenants.

It was the first big trophy I owned and it got us a lot of recognition, people started to take notice and we’ve done a very good job as a company managing it. During the war all the glass in the dome was painted for the blackout to stop the light going out and it’s been like that for 70 years - as part of its refurbishment we’ve replaced all the glass now so that natural light is allowed in. Things like that make me very proud. I’m also very proud of

the letting that we did in The Capital building, that has kept a lot of business in Liverpool. They are similar milestones. The common thread is quality. The letting to the UK Borders Agency at The Capital is probably Liverpool’s biggest ever commercial deal.”

At the forefront of Liverpool’s regeneration it feels appropriate to ask George Downing on the future of the city. “I don’t think it’s easy for any regional city to attract inward investment and what’s important for Liverpool is that we’re trying to keep the momentum going in a really difficult market place. It’s a lot harder since 2008 but Liverpool’s infrastructure has significantly improved. Liverpool ONE and the Echo Arena and Convention Centre are a massive benefit to the city, the amount of new hotels is testament to that and they are creating new jobs.

We really need to keep plugging away, for example going to China for the Expo, it might seem to some like a waste of money but if you don’t buy the lottery ticket you can’t win the money.”

The future for Downing remains in the educational sector, that’s its bread and butter, its roots. In Manchester it is their student accommodation which is the benchmark in quality for other student villages.

Following on from the success of Broadcasting Place, in Leeds, which won the prestigious title of Best Tall Building Internationally from the

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George Downing Mover & Shaker

Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, they are continuing to build iconic buildings in Newcastle and another site has just been acquired in Leeds for a student village.

“The dynamics of the education sector are changing, we’ve already changed our track to make sure we build contemporary and iconic buildings,” he said. “Many of the older universities and newer universities will need new buildings or replacing in the next regeneration.

Through the downturn people have started to sell sites off and banks are starting to sell repossessions.

Because of the austerity measures people are not sitting on things as much and the amount of good quality sites offered in the past couple of months has improved. We want to buy sites and we’re looking at the bigger Russell Group university towns where there are good development opportunities.

The plan is to build more student bedrooms and develop our plans to embrace what’s surrounding those areas.”

Downing’s dominance will not stay confined to the North for too long with offers on the table already for sites in London. George Downing has kept his eye on the ball by nurturing long term projects such as the Islington site, a site facing the Royal University Hospital. It is a redevelopment of 20 hectares offering educational buildings and improved retail offering, accommodating the need for extra living space and the new hospital which is expected to spill off into that area.

Finishing the interview, and feeling positive over Liverpool’s future, George Downing reminds me, ‘there will be difficult times ahead though, it won’t be an easy road in the next few years in the property sector.'

Humble to the condition of the property market at the moment, he is grateful for the continuous work Downing has had through the recession, understanding that through his team’s hard work and diligence they have kept their head above water.

As the economy improves though, the future is bright for Downing.

Downing File DOB: 25 April 1963.

Education: Merchant Taylors, Crosby.

Projects: Liverpool: The Port of Liverpool Building, The Capital, No 1 Old Hall Street, Graeme House, Federation House, Victoria House, Eden Square, The Symphony, Islington Regeneration Company.

Nationally: Broadcasting Place, Leeds; Parkway Gate, Manchester; Downing Plaza, Newcastle.

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OFFICE TO LET 36 HENRY STREET, ROPE WALKS, LIVERPOOL 1 •1,200

sq ft (111.5 sq m) • Self contained suite with disabled access • Character building with exposed beams and brickwork • Short term and all inclusive terms available

CONTACT Tony Reed or Andrew Byrne Keppie Massie on 0151 255 0755

36 MOVE COMMERCIAL

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Renewable future Lunch debate

By Dina Karim dina@movepublishing.co.uk

The panellists Dave Armstrong, Matt Brook and David Hunt met at The London Carriage Works to discuss how environmentally friendly Liverpool and the North West are. Dave runs the Carbon Consultancy Company, which works with businesses in reducing their carbon emissions and energy costs. Matt Brook is a board director at architectural company Broadway Malyan who were behind the environmentally friendly design of the Mann Island residential building in Liverpool. David Hunt is a director at Eco Environments, which installs renewable energy systems in homes and businesses. Shadow minister for climate change and Liverpool Labour MP Luciana Berger recently commended the company for its work.

Dave Armstrong Carbon Consultancy Company

David Hunt Director at Eco Environments

Matt Brook Board director of architectural company Broadway Malyan

Green thinking What are your thoughts on renewable energy in the North West?

David Hunt: Eco Environments is growing at 500 per cent at the moment. We are inhibited by the lack of understanding of renewable technologies like solar panels and wind turbines. There’s so little awareness from commercial property owners and from planners in understanding ways of meeting objectives that the government has set. They need to have a more relaxed view on planning particularly in industrial areas.

Dave Armstrong: I deal with

businesses and manufacturers so it’s all about payback and returns and those businesses that we deal with are very reluctant to spend money on a three year payback.

They’re not planning like that at the moment, they’re just planning to survive. For landlords you’ve got the issue of having things forced onto them like empty property rates and Energy Performance Certificates. Also finance issues, some of these clients are struggling to keep loans on buildings, that’s their main focus.

When new builds start up that’s when we need to get in at very early days. The education is a

major hurdle to get over. I’m a property landlord as well and it’s about keeping my tenants happy, so I can keep them there in the future.

Matt Brook: Mine is a different angle as a designer. The challenge ten years ago was persuading clients that sustainability was an agenda worth pursuing. That’s not the case now, most of our clients are clued up, well educated and the topic needs to be addressed. I think the market during the recession is only going to help change the mindset. People realise that in a buoyant market there’s less need to be competitive but in a hard

market it’s even more important your product is at the top of the list. A good design reputation such as Mann Island is really going to help that - it stands out from the crowd. It’s an opportunity to make a direct comparison between sustainability and cost savings. It’s not all about saving the planet but also saving money.

David: A lot of people when you mention green and renewable instantly think tree huggers, as much as it’s worthy the majority have a simple bottom line.

Dave: This is an issue that’s not going to go away so if they can be ahead of the curve that’s going to MOVE COMMERCIAL 37

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be great for them. I think a few years ago people thought it was a fad, but it’s not going away, it’s a serious issue.

What is the financial sustainability of renewable energy?

David: The big thing it comes down to is if commercial landlords are spending money on renewable energy they get an 8 - 10 per cent return on solar panels and with wind turbines they get a 20 per cent return - so it’s a big return in investment.

Dave: The Display Energy Certificate is compulsory for public buildings over 1000 sq m and that displays gas, energy consumption over a 12-month period. The Government introduced the Energy Performance Certificate and Display Energy Certificate at the same time and the hope was the EPC would be carried out when people where selling buildings, so therefore the Government would have energy statistics for the entire country. That has been done nowhere near fast enough for the Government to have a list of all the buildings so they are seeing if there is a way of pushing it down another way. We’ve got private companies who see the benefit of them and have them in the foyers of office blocks especially leisure clubs across the country to benchmark management and focus their energy.

Matt: I think another benefit of that requirement coming in, is that they are looking at the long term benefit of their investment is part predicated on how sustainable their investment which. Also a lot of companies have a long-term sustainable policy and they are looking at how they can show the 38 MOVE COMMERCIAL

implementation of that and one way is through this certificate.

David: I think it definitely makes a building more marketable. If you look at the white goods market and how people buy a washing machine or fridge now that’s really driven by energy efficiency and it’s become the same for residential houses. As soon as you make the purchases more transparent on what they are getting, it starts driving the market.

What schemes are available now to encourage energy reduction?

David: The feeding tariff schemes pay you for all the energy you generate through wind turbines or solar panels so you are encouraged to be an energy generator.

Commercial building owners can install wind turbines and make a significant return on investment.

Dave: Carbon Consultancy Company is constantly advising on energy efficiency and renewable technologies at the outset of development. To engage our services at this time, ensures that

“

A lot of people when you mention green and renewable instantly think tree huggers, as much as it’s worthy the majority have a simple bottom line.

”

lifecycle costs and day to day running costs are reduced for occupants. We have also started digging earth on an exemplar scheme in the North West in March, a zero energy cost Business Park.

With energy efficiency and zero carbon technologies businesses will no longer need to pay energy costs or be held to ransom by unstable pricing. Our concept is replicable across other building stock and the scheme will shake up the property market.

David: A lot of it is understanding what is possible - so many times the planner is the obstacle because they don’t understand the

technology or it’s something they’re not used to.

Mark: You’ve got to integrate the renewables as part of the design concept, if you make it more integral to the building design then some of those issues should go away.

Is there more work coming in to turn a building environmentally friendly from retrofits or new builds?

David: In the last few years, it’s mainly been retrofit because not a lot was getting built. In the past few months, there’s been more commercial and residential new build schemes so they are starting to come through.

Dave: From a new build perspective, I’ve found clients are becoming a lot more conscious of sustainable products. We don’t need to deal with nearly are much persuasion as previously. Even the speculative developers as still more savvy, because even if they flip it they still need to sell it. I’ve got one client where it’s in their company policy that everything we build has to be to a certain sustainability standard so they’re not going to be making the decision on cost but how to make the renewable energy more cost effective. However other developers may not need that green image and that green PR that goes with it and they may be only interested in cost.

David: You need to make sure sustainable aspirations are designed in from the outset, and that you’re making a name for yourselves. At 30 Pall Mall the scheme may have added cost to the building structure costs but you’re getting money back from savings to the running costs through electricity savings and on the double skin façade. What we’ve done is as well as making sure of providing mix mode cut to the building, it’s also good in terms of sustainable targets. It’s a huge saving in terms of

construction costs and also increases the net floor area of the building. The aspiration is to get the first principle right, that’s the only way you can get the cost saving benefit by committing from day one, if you don’t commit from day one then you’re not actually getting any trade off.

Dave: But the majority of commercial landlord owners have existing stock and it’s easy to say when we build something new then we can do something about it but with existing stock we won’t because they don’t understand the benefits financially or from a PR and marketing point of view. That’s what I’ve found really different from the last six months, whether they are pension funds or property owners they can get a marketing and cash incentive for installing stuff. In the last six months, the interest from property owners has gone through the roof.

Matt: There’s been a lot of projects that have stop started so you can start designing in some things and then technologies change which makes it harder, so it is easier for developers to just go (well this is how we always do it, this is what we know.) So sometimes nice bits of design get pushed aside.

What is the Low Carbon Board?

David: The Low Carbon Board is a body that reports to the chief executives of the six local authorities in the Liverpool city region to advise them on local carbon economy as a whole and that ranges from training and skills

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Renewable future Lunch debate to the implementation of renewable energy towards reducing the carbon output in the regions. So we tend to highlight products or areas where we can help, so it’s a case of trying to facilitate our projects so we’ve got an example of our projects people can go see and understand how it works. People don’t really understand, or really believe, that a wind turbine, solar panels or heat pump can do a good job. The task of the low carbon board is to try to get some projects going to encourage private investors to do it of their own back.

“

From a new build perspective, I’ve found clients are becoming a lot more conscious of sustainable products.

”

What do you think of some of the recent major renewable energy schemes such as the Mersey Barrage?

David: I think just generally the greater awareness has to help. For example two years ago you struggled to find a solar panel anywhere and now they are starting to become more prevalent.

Dave: We were talking about it with farmers the other day. The farming community might be a little skeptical of wind and PV but when they are close-knit community and those guys see other farmers benefiting from it they will be quick to pick it up.

Matt: I think people are starting to see it as a positive resource for the region as well; it’s a real financial asset for the Liverpool city region.

We have a lot of natural renewable sources of energy and tapping into that is a real boost for the regional economy.

David: Wind turbines could be a manufacturing base for the Merseyside area. One of the big problems for wind turbines is when they are installed wrong or in the wrong place, that reinforces

people’s concept that things don’t work. It’s about using the right technology in the right place. And putting the wrong technology in the wrong place can have a really detrimental effect. A few years ago the big thing was wind turbines in people’s homes making a big difference to people’s energy bills, but they never worked and so the conception was that wind turbines didn’t work. They were totally mis-sold and it did a lot of damage to the industry. Wind turbines in houses is a big no, you’re better off burning your money. In an urban area, the wind flow is very turbulent. So industrial parks and commercial spaces where you’ve got open flow of air are great, but not in urban areas.

How can the North West be more environmentally friendly?

Matt: Mann Island is a key new building in Liverpool; it is pushing the market up. It was always going to be a very high profile scheme, it was key it had the right sustainable aspirations as well.

Dave: Back to turbines in the wrong area, and knocking technology backwards, there is a site in Stoke on Trent where the 400,000 sqft industrial site has kinetic plates creating energy and skylights and solar panels. There’s so much going on and in fact there’s too much going on.

Businesses have looked at it and said they don’t understand it. Not even the agents or anyone representing the building really understands.

Matt: The office building on Mann Island has got no obvious gimmicks, there’s no obvious appliqué wind mills or PV or anything like that it’s just lots and lots and lots of small measures that all add up to make it a sustainable building and that’s the bigger picture. I think that is what we definitely need to encourage more of, it’s not any one solution it’s many and that’s harder work.

That’s why I’m really proud of that scheme because we got there with a really holistic view.

Dave: One superb quick win for energy reduction is with LED lighting. LED lighting has advanced significantly over the last few years.

We have developed a range of LED lighting that suits most commercial applications, significantly cutting running costs by up to 90 per cent and CO2 emissions of the same amount. Plus lighting is at significant heights, LED lighting

lasts for up to 100,000 reducing hours expensive maintenance costs. The premises where we have installed LED lighting, staff have reported how much more they prefer to work in near daylight conditions; it has also significantly improved Health and Safety in previously badly lit premises.

David: I think the councils could do a lot more. Knowsley, for example, are very forward thinking and working on a number of retrofitting projects at Knowsley Business Park.

The council could be more supportive and help things through planning. Liverpool and the Wirral are dinosaurs in that respect in encouraging businesses and supporting businesses to do retrofitting. It’s very much a case if you do it they will come, if businesses see it done then others will want to follow suit.

Could Liverpool ever become Carbon Neutral?

David: I can’t see it being carbon neutral. Not to be pessimistic.

There’s a finite number of buildings that can be retrofitted. It depends how you define carbon neutrality.

There are great opportunities through our tide and wind for us to generate and if you had to balance that with our usage you could get somewhere close but a lot more work needs to be done making sure buildings are developed and designed right.

Matt: We’re a very dense city with a lot of existing property, residentially and commercially a lot more has to be done toget to a level of sustainability.

David: We’re working on greener museums and the Cunard Building, St Georges Hall and a number of listed buildings it’s possible to do things with. I don’t know if these changes to the Localism Bill are going to help or hinder to some extent because there’s a lot of

nimbyism around wind and particularly solar panels so it will be interesting how that filters through.

LONDON CARRIAGE WORKS Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9DA.

The London Carriage Works is an award-winning restaurant serving modern dishes complemented by the use of local, fresh and seasonal produce, cooked by awardwinning chef Paul Askew.

Named after its original use, a coach and carriage builders, it was built around 1866 in a Venetian palazzo style. Our panel enjoyed the prix-fixe menu with three courses at £35 (£39 at weekends). We savoured the delights of the roast breast of free range turkey, scented with rosemary. The icing on the cake was the fresh catch of the day the John Dorian served on a bed of risotto. For desert we were served a chocolate truffle tart with honeycomb ice cream. To book a table call 0151 705 2222 or visit www.thelondoncarriageworks .co.uk

MOVE COMMERCIAL 39

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Appointments Steve Moule joins Todd & Ledson as a new Partner Todd & Ledson are delighted to announce that Steve Moule has joined the practice as a partner with particular responsibility for developing their project management function.

Steve was formerly deputy managing director at David

Manchester, Derby, Sheffield and Harrogate. CEG’s properties in Liverpool include Silk House Court, South Harrington Buildings and Liver Industrial Estate.

Q&A With Charles Millett Employment lawyer at Morecrofts Solicitors It was the previous Government that announced it would bring forward the review of the default retirement age from 2011 to 2010, although the new coalition Government has brought with it fresh debate over the default retirement age (DRA), currently set at 65.

As the DRA will be phased out by October later this year and in view of the importance of its effects on the UK economy, where do employers stand and how should they prepare for this change?

Charles Millett, employment lawyer at Morecrofts Solicitors tells all...

Antonia Martin-Wright

Steve Moule

McLean Construction and was involved in the development of many projects around the North West including Princes Dock, East Village, and Marybone and Lime Street Student Villages in Liverpool, and headed up national Partnerships with Shell and Barclays.

New SCP Associate Director Gary Clarke has joined SCP as an Associate Director in the Highway Design and Infrastructure team. Gary has over 35 years of experience in undertaking and managing various highway infrastructure projects and has excellent abilities in achieving innovative and economic solutions to design issues. He has long established and excellent working relationships with Local Authority officers, along with contractors and other professional consultancies.

Gary brings new skills to the business in terms of drainage design and ground condition reports, which supplement the existing highly skilled technical staff at SCP.

Tesco boss appointed to Liverpool Prime Minister David Cameron has commissioned Tesco Chief Executive Sir Terry Leahy to produce a regional economic plan that will stimulate growth in Liverpool. Sir Terry Leahy will be stepping down from his role as chief executive of Tesco in March this year. The Government said a national LEP summit on growth and competitiveness in the spring will bring together LEP chairs from across the country to prioritise action to stimulate growth at a regional level.

David Cameron, said: “New Local Enterprise Partnerships – coalitions of business, councils and communities like the one I saw in the Wirral, are already working with business leaders like Terry Leahy to get big local projects off the ground to boost regional growth."

Currently, there is a process that employers must follow when retiring an employee. While there is no legal requirement under the current regime for businesses to specify a retirement age, those that do must ensure it is 65 or above, unless there is objective justification for a lower age. Demonstrating such objective justification is a hurdle for any employer, so most will specify an age of 65 or above.

The retirement age, which must be the same for both men and women, can be specified within the employee's contract, can be established through custom and practice or can simply be the DRA. An employer should notify an employee six to 12 months in advance of the intended date of retirement, informing them of that date and setting out their right to request to work beyond this date.

The whole point of an employer following the notification procedure is that they can then rely on the assumption that the reason for dismissal is retirement. There is no obligation on an employer to give reasons for rejecting a request, although it is good practice to do so.

The outcome must be communicated in writing and the employee then has the right to appeal. A failure to follow this formal process could result in claims for unfair dismissal claim and age discrimination.

Expert Advice While most employers are clear on the current procedures, what will happen once the DRA is removed?

Some argue that the removal will only have tangible benefits if it is combined with other measures, such as extending the right to request flexible working to everyone, better training and career development for over 50s, a media campaign to promote the recruitment of older workers and health programmes to promote their wellbeing.

As yet, it is unclear exactly what measures the Government will implement to bring about the abolition of the DRA following the current consultation process. It may become unlawful in any circumstances to dismiss an employee by reason of retirement. Instead, the employer might have to demonstrate that the employee had become incapable of doing their job. Even then, employers would have to be conscious of avoiding disability discrimination by ensuring they were making reasonable adjustments.

Employers should be aware that the current regime is changing as early as April this year. It is proposed that from April 2011, employers will not be able to commence the existing retirement process that the law currently allows.

It is essential that employers monitor the ongoing consultation being carried out by the Government and that they realise that by October, they will not be able to force their employees to retire just because they have reached a certain age.

---

New recruit for CEG Antonia Martin-Wright has moved from working at Bruntwood Estates Manchester office to Commercial Estates Group in Harrogate. She was working at Bruntwood for three years in the sales and agency department focussing on South Manchester. She is now an asset manager for CEG in the Harrogate office covering Liverpool,

Charles Millett is a employment lawyer at Morecrofts Solicitors Contact: For further please contact Charles Millett at Morecrofts on 0151 236 8871 www.morecroft.co.uk

Sir Terry Leahy

Issued on behalf of Morecroft Solicitors by Ubiquity pr.

Further information from Joel Jelen on 0151 703 0917 or 07710 436 125. www.ubiquitypr.co.uk

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big

on support

If you are considering relocation for your business, or expanding your company, Wirral offers accessible, user-friendly information that saves you time and enables faster, better informed decision-making.

You will find specialist advice and assistance from finding sites and development partners, through to recruiting and training quality staff and developing new supply chains.

A full package of location advice and business support is available designed to give your company a competitive advantage.

For more information and advice about investing in Wirral

Call 0151 650 6915 Visit www.investwirral.com

417JUN08PJ

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By Emma Pinch emma@movepublishing.co.uk

Against a wintry economic climate there are green shoots pushing up in the North West. We look at the major developments set to flourish across the region in the year ahead.

Springtime for the Northwest Knowsley – Stockbridge Village

Wirral – New Brighton WHAT Phase II of the £60 million revamp of New Brighton on the Wirral seafront.

WHEN With Neptune’s redevelopment of the Wirral seafront’s Floral Pavilion complete, summer sees the opening of a new digital cinema, Morrisons supermarket and a Travelodge hotel. It will create an ‘upmarket’ feel according to developers.

WHO WILL BENEFIT? Extra visitor spend in the region is

WHAT The £25 million Stockbridge Village complex which will include a primary school, play pathfinder scheme, family centre, police access point, 20 metre swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and supermarket.

WHEN Building work on the former Heatwaves Leisure centre site will see the new primary school open in autumn.

projected at £21m per annum.

Permanent jobs at the new venues will be advertised early in the year.

THEY SAY "Wirral is very much open for business when it comes to attracting regeneration and construction projects – whether it be the £60 million being invested in New Brighton, the Peel plans for Wirral Waters or the work being done across Wirral to improve the housing stock,” says Wirral Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning Strategy, Andrew Hodson.

WHO WILL BENEFIT? Part of a wider regeneration plan.

School, pool and supermarket are rebuilds, improving access and social provision for local residents.

Construction jobs will also be created.

THEY SAY “This is an exciting project for the Stockbridge Village community and we are thrilled we have been chosen to deliver these major improvements which will transform the everyday lives of residents,” says Barry Roberts, Morgan Sindall area director.

St Helens - Rugby League Stadium WHAT An 18,000 capacity new stadium for St Helens Rugby League Club to be built on the derelict former United Glass site.

The £40 million development’s triumvirate of plans, submitted by Langtree, Taylor Wimpey and Tesco, also includes a multi-million pound Tesco Extra, a new housing on the site of the current Saints home and new retail outlets at the site of the town centre’s existing Tesco.

WHEN Access roads are finished and a footbridge 42 MOVE COMMERCIAL

linking the stadium to the town centre will be completed by August. Stadium due to open in October.

WHO WILL BENEFIT? Multi million pounds in increased visitor spend, and 1400 jobs created.

THEY SAY St Helens Council Leader Marie Rimmer says: “This development, 10 years in the making, will bring not just to our own town but to the region in general, massive investment and jobs and a first class stadium fit for a world class club.”

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Project developments Focus

WHAT The £72 million Museum of Liverpool is Britain’s largest national museum new build in nearly a century. The threefloor building at the Pier Head boasts 8,000 square metres devoted to the geography, culture, history of the city and its global influence.

Liverpool – Museum of Liverpool

WHEN The museum will open to the public in the summer.

WHO WILL BENEFIT? National Museums Liverpool estimate it will attract up to 750,000 visitors every year and lead to 500 construction jobs and more than 70 permanent posts.

THEY SAY Says David Fleming, director of National Museums Liverpool: “Standing proudly on the Mersey waterfront, it expresses our confidence as a great 21st century city welcoming locals and tourists alike to a venue that we can all be proud of, telling the story of a city that has achieved so much.”

Halton – Mersey Gateway

Cheshire – Iconic Theatre WHAT The £600 million Mersey Gateway, a 1.5km six lane toll bridge spanning the Mersey at Runcorn.

regeneration and £61.9 million in GVA by 2030, by reducing journey time and supporting the airport and Mersey corridor.

WHEN Despite the spending cuts, Chancellor George Osborne pledged £86 million towards it and is expected to announce further funding in the spring. Planning permission is expected to be published soon and the procurement process initialised.

THEY SAY “The Spending Review announcement that the project had been green-lighted financially was a massive step forward for us,” says Cllr Rob Polhill, leader of Halton Borough Council. “It means we can begin to look forward to an announcement on the planning applications and orders and get on with the important job of delivering the Mersey Gateway.”

WHO WILL BENEFIT? It is hoped the scheme will generate 470 jobs on site, 4,000 jobs through

WHAT A state-of-the-art 800 seat auditorium with cinema facilities, restaurant and events venue to be built at either Little Roodee car park or at the Odeon Theatre in the city centre.

WHEN Costing between £30 million and £50 million depending on the scheme adopted, the project will go before planners this year.

WHO WILL BENEFIT? A theatre will help the historic city to compete as a cultural

destination with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester and an events venue will make it an attractive location for conferences.

THEY SAY “We have always contended the city desperately needed an iconic theatre to fill a major gap in its cultural offer,” says Councillor Richard Short, Executive Member of Chester and West Cheshire Council for Culture and Recreation.

“We are about to take a major step towards providing a major boost to the city’s economic regeneration.”

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By Dina Karim dina@movepublishing.co.uk

David Duvall’s influence on the cityscape of Liverpool spans four decades inspiring the city through the peaks and troughs of the eighties and nineties leading to the setting up of Denovo Design which prides itself on having a well-established track record of designing eco-friendly housing since the 1990s.

Fresh design

44 MOVE COMMERCIAL

defining, designing and enabling the built form.

The unusual ability to offer these services from a mid-sized company retaining the personal touch is part of our uniqueness and certainly helps to differentiate Denovo from others.

We strive for a non-dogmatic approach to a client’s needs that will benefit all who own, maintain, work in or just pass by the usually very permanent constructions we create.”

David believes though that when it concerns the environmental attitude of a building it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that all efforts are made to minimise that impact on society at large and, as a significant direct benefit to the client, to reduce their own costs and environmental footprint.

“The daily stretching of our imaginations to develop approaches giving reduced environmental impacts will allow what are now considered advanced concepts to become the norm.

The client is a major partner in this approach, and there is a clear growing alignment of desires, social and monetary incentives to meet the ideals of reduced environmental footprint.”

Denovo Design is currently working on various substantial Union projects in London, Cardiff, Swansea, Portsmouth, Stoke-onTrent, Eastbourne and Bristol. They are also working on local private

residential commissions and have continued to work on sustainable affordable housing projects for local Housing Associations.

It is their design of Jack Jones House, formerly known as Transport House, which won them the Move Commercial award for Best Commercial Scheme. Unite the

“

There is a clear growing alignment of desires...to meet the ideals of reduced environmental footprint.

“

Denovo Design has scooped numerous national environmental awards since the 1990s and claims the honour of designing the first ‘Green’ housing development in Liverpool, and the first on the Wirral. David Duvall, director of Denovo Design, is a Liverpool native from Everton and a recipient of the 1970’s egalitarian education policy where he studied at Liverpool Polytechnic (now John Moores). He has worked with large and small practices; finally grasping an opportunity to create his own practice Pantoscopic, there followed a rollercoaster of new experiences including the development of dinghy sailing and canoeing skills.

“Confidence in running a company led to creating a larger practice, Denovo Design, by combining with another established company; in turn it allowed the involvement with Unite the Union amongst the traditional social landlord and private developer clients. Which didn’t leave much time for sailing anymore!”

Denovo Design offers a comprehensive full service of architecture, conservation and interior design, it is this full-service business which helps it compete with other firms in the city.

“By offering additional services beyond the traditional ‘Architecture’ role, and more importantly backing this offer up with the right performance, we can respond to the client’s developing needs throughout the often lengthy process of

Union needed a regional office that fitted in with the enhanced corporate image of the new Union.

The former Trade and General Workers Union (TGWU) building had been well known in the city and was lying derelict and up for sale.

Although there was the option of a demolition and new build, ‘recycling’ the existing building offered great potential due to its historic association with the Union, its iconic presence and geographic position in the City Centre.

“The previously derelict landmark building has now been restored to its former glory. Whilst the brutalist style (for which the building has always been renowned), has been maintained, the contemporary embellishments have enabled it to reclaim and enhance its iconic gateway position in the developing City Centre whilst reinforcing the Union’s links with Liverpool.”

For the future of Denovo Design, emphasis lies within keeping the company healthy as opposed to steering it forward towards largescale expansion.

“Although we anticipate the effects of the recession to continue well into 2011, we would expect to sustain our healthy position through to the recovery. People are at the forefront of everything we do, and we are developing an internal culture to invigorate and empower our team.

This will reflect in the way we are able to understand and respond to the client’s needs, and inevitably will enhance the business. Future projects range from small scale works for the RSPB to significant commercial and private residential developments. We will continue to exercise the seriously underrated virtues of patience and persistance.”

Of course, David Duvall is also looking forward to a year of classic dinghy sailing, juggling family holidays, trying to play the piano and tinkering with the Figaro in whatever spare time he has after running this award-winning architectural firm.

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David Duvall, Denovo Design Founding Father

Duvall File Award-winning scheme: At the recent Your Move Property Awards (see page 22.) Denovo Design won Best Commercial Scheme for Jack Jones House, the former Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) building on Commutation Row. Following re-acquisition, a strategy evolved of working with the essential muscularity of the existing building by retaining the defining vertical stair towers and the horizontality of the linking blocks, and enhancing this with the single storey roof-top extension. Eschewing small-scale elevational elements such as bricks or metal panels, it was an early decision to use a homogenous finish (insulated render system) to the elevations to enhance the sense of scale whilst also designing-out the details that contributed to the visual degradation of the original.

The whole underlying design concept (with regards to materials and technologies) was geared towards maximization of environmental performance and efficiency, giving a highly unusual (for a conversion scheme) initial ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating.

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Expert views Ask the panel

What does the year ahead hold in store?

Two Royal weddings and a Posh baby are in the diary but what will be happening closer to home? Is a punt on the stock markets the way to beat low saving rates?

Where will we be going on holiday? Five experts look in to their crystal balls and predict what will happen across their sectors in 2011.

“It’s often said in stock market circles that ‘the trend is your friend’ and in terms of sheer momentum the FTSE 100 Basic Material sector ended 2010 strongest with a fourth quarter return of 22.8 per cent. This was driven in 2010, by amongst others, Elementis, Fresnillo and Ferrexpo. With world demand for commodities continuing to prove insatiable this is the sector to watch during 2011."

Jason Laws, reader in finance at Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University “Destinations outside the Eurozone like Turkey and Egypt will continue to be popular, but Tunisia and Morocco will take off this year because of new infrastructure – four and five star hotels for three star prices. Syria can be found in mainstream brochures for the first time so that could prove a hot new destination. While Dubai fluctuates in its appeal, Abu Dhabi is drawing visitors thanks to the Grand Prix and Ferrari museum.

Britain has always been a popular choice but some regions will gain extra appeal because of the Olympics.”

“Local sourcing and freshness is still popular but people and chefs like me will be getting smart about using cheaper cuts of meat. Everyone can cook a fillet steak but cooking a shoulder needs a bit more TLC. It’s all about the price point. The high-end continental stuff like foie gras, truffles and even olive oil have become much more expensive so you won’t see so much of them on menus. I think the trend for British beer, especially craft beers from microbreweries, will grow, as evidenced by the popularity of our own beer tasting nights.”

Gary Manning Chef/Owner at 60 Hope Street

Frances Tuke, ABTA spokeswoman

“

investors trying to buy commercial or industrial property in their pension fund may rush to meet the April deadline 46 MOVE COMMERCIAL

”

“I think transaction rates will remain sluggish but with some bright spots.

The impact of government cuts in Merseyside may be more significant than elsewhere, and this has yet to be felt. In the corporate sector anticipated business failures have not happened. Businesses in good quality buildings are still extending and renewing leases.

There may be a small flurry of activity caused by the new pension rules, which means that investors trying to buy commercial or industrial property in their pension fund may rush to meet the April deadline, when pension contribution limits are significantly reduced."

Julia Casimo, partner at John Kerr Chartered Accountants

“Supermarkets will be the retail winners this year, because people have to go to them to buy food, and they’ll pick up other things they need there too, like clothes and furnishings. Big ticket items will be put on the back burner, meaning those shops will struggle. We’ll be doing more and more shopping online and we’ll see a greater number of pop up shops on the high street because of increased vacancy rates, where the vendors don’t need to pay rates, just bills. Outdoors clothing and equipment may do well if we have a good summer, with more people making the most of the UK.” Robert Clark, independent retail analyst

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per w ork per m station (T&Cs onth app

…then contact

ly)

centrix@connect Whatever your budget, our competitive office packages offer a solution that gives you all the benefits of a state-of-the-art office without the cost.

• Centrix@ business centre with offices for 2 to 6 persons • Conference and meeting room facilities • Air conditioning • On site car parking • Secure environment • Adjacent to Sandhills train station and 1.5 miles from the City Centre Connect Business Village, 24 Derby Road, Liverpool L5 9PR

CALL 0151

207 7700

www.langtreegroupplc.co.uk/centrixa tconnect

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TO LET / FOR SALE

MERE

RENT S FRO M

£ 8PSF PLUS

R OR A ENT FREE CASH BACK EQUIV ALENT (T&CS APPLY )

A570 ST HELENS LINKWAY OFF J7 M62, ST HELENS

SELF-CONTAINED OFFICES 2,500 - 10,100 SQ FT DESIGN & BUILD OPPORTUNITIES PLANNING PERMISSION FOR UP TO 300,000 SQ FT

To find out more about Mere Grange visit

www.meregrange.co.uk For enquiries contact:

01925 273000 www.langtreegroupplc.co.uk