Move Commercial 34

LIVERPOOL CITY REGION CHESHIRE MANCHESTER

Nov-Dec 2013

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move CommerCial The north-west’s guide to property and business

The Mersey Suite at The Port of Liverpool Building 7,000 sq ft with river views

Digital debate Can technology boost North West business?

Commercial success Awards celebrations for property industry

Issue 34

Downing Flexi-Offices ACROSS LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE: FROM ONE PERSON, FROM ONE MONTH

THE OFFICE SPACE YOU NEED, FOR AS LONG AS YOU NEED IT, AT AN IRRESISTIBLE INCLUSIVE RENT. Just tell us what you want…

T:0151 707 2666 E:offices@downing.com FOLLOW US FOR EXCLUSIVE DEALS @DOWNINGGROUP

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Issue thirty-four Move Commercial

Contents News 06 Montell House opens its doors 07 New tenants at Port of Liverpool building 08 Refurbishment for Warrington offices 09 Optimism for regional office take up 10 Great Northern Warehouse sold 12 £100m Salford scheme approval 13 Liverpool hotel plans revealed 14 Expansion for Met Quarter store 15 Boost for regional apprentices 21 Investment fund grows

Features

60

Welcome to Move Commercial Big infrastructure and property developments are sprouting up across the region. With billions of pounds being invested and thousands of jobs across these eye-catching developments we take a look at the best schemes the region has to offer as we head in to 2014.

We also celebrate with the North West’s commercial property winners at the annual Your Move Property Awards,

having caught up with them during the glitzy ceremony at Lutyens Crypt in Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral.

There’s also your usual selection of breaking news, in-depth columnists, events pages for your diary and we sit down with three digital experts to discuss the future of the area as a digital hub in our latest lunch debate.

22

42 LIVERPOOL CITY REGION CHESHIRE MANCHESTER

Nov-Dec 2013

FREE

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

The Mersey Suite at The Port of Liverpool Building 7,000 sq ft with river views

Digital debate Can technology boost North West business?

Commercial success Awards celebrations for property industry

34

Issue 34

move publishing ltd Advertising Director Fiona Barnet. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Advertising Manager Catherine McCarthy. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editor Christine Toner. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editorial Team Natasha Young, and Stephen Hurrell. Tel: 0151 709 3871 post@movepublishing.co.uk

M

Design The Design Foundry.

Email: mail@design-foundry.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 Credits: Peter Kelly – Key Event.

Tom Murphy – Key Event.

Robin Clewley – Key Event.

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.

08 Bitesize Thinking Food for thought 20 Appointments Who’s moving where?

22 Your Move Property Awards 2013 Commercial winners revealed 24 Award highlights All the pictures from the Your Move Property Awards 26 Rising Star Mason Owen’s Paul Thorne on his deal maker award 30 Key Event Whisky tasting at 60 Hope Street 32 Map the region News at a glance from across the region 34 Entrepreneur Neill Briggs of BAC Automotive, the Liverpool supercar maker 38 What’s Next For...

Four experts predict the future 40 Key Event Off roading at the Jaguar Land Rover Experience at Halewood 42 Lunch debate Is the North West a digital hub?

48 Mover and shaker Tim Heatley of Capital & Centric on plans for ‘funky’ new North West developments 52 Founding business Trevor Cousins of Fairhurts Design Group on its Manchester legacy 54 Columnists What’s happening in the office market in 2013?

56 Key Event Breakfast launch for Pegasus House 59 Business diary The region’s best events 60 Infrastructure focus The biggest and best major projects across the region 63 Ask the Panel Can the government do more for the North West?

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News Latest

Montell House opens its doors

RENOVATION work to complete 10,000 sq ft of grade A office space at Montell House in Chester Business Park is complete, according to developer Prospect GB. A launch event (pictured) took place to showcase the newly refurbished building and Prospect reported “very enthusiastic feedback” from visitors for both the design and the standard of the appointments, according to Chris Walker of Prospect GB. He says: “Montell House is situated within the Kingsfield Court complex at the heart of one of the most prestigious business parks in the North West. It’s an outstanding location for an office and earlier this year, when we started putting our plans together, we could see the building’s potential appeal with the addition of a high-specification upgrade.

“Montell House is ideal headquarters for a single occupant but our investment has ensured that its flexible configuration can accommodate up to four tenants.”

The two-storey building has been refurbished to include a new reception area, air conditioning, lift and 60 space car park. It offers 9,479 sq ft of office space comprising 4,357 sq ft on the ground floor and 5,122 sq ft on the first floor. It is situated in the 1.4m sq ft Chester Business Park development.

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Eddisons team takes on charity challenges STAFF AT Manchester’s Eddisons office took on a trio of gruelling challenges recently, all in the name of charity.

A team of 11 from the chartered surveyors firm tackled the 12-mile Tough Mudder obstacle course at the Broughton Hall estate, Skipton, and raised £600 for Help for Heroes.

Meanwhile runners from the company continued the fundraising efforts by taking on the Great North Run through the streets of Newcastle and South Shields.

In return they collected £1,720 for MIND and £560 for the British Lung Foundation.

Finally, an eight-strong team of cyclists pedalled their way to success by participating in a Cyclosportive through the North Somerset and Mendip countryside. The group raised around £2,000 for a children’s cancer

The team of Eddisons cyclists

charity and an organisation providing clean sanitation around the world.

Recognising the team’s efforts, Eddisons’ managing director, Richard Roe, says: “I am proud of the

commitment of the staff who have all trained hard for their chosen events and in doing so have helped raise much needed funds.”

GVA APPoiNted to MArket the exChANGe

The Exchange, Chester

PROPERTY consultant GVA has been tasked with managing the sale of the 59,220 sq ft development at The Exchange in Chester, according to developer Opus Land.

The St John Street development

includes three floors of grade A office space, covering 24,646 sq ft, at the heart of the development, as well as four restaurants and a 60-bedroom Travelodge Hotel and is expected to fetch £8.7m from interested buyers.

The five-floor development was built in 2002 and renovated in 2008.

Current tenants include Pizza Express and Pitcher & Piano restaurants as well as Marston’s Estate and Optical Express retail units.

David Winterbottom, GVA’s senior director, says: “The Exchange development represents an excellent investment opportunity, situated in an ideal central location and boasts the only Travelodge in the city, which is currently reporting very strong trading figures.

“We are marketing The Exchange on a freehold basis and inviting offers in excess of £8.7m for the premises.”

The property is now on the market and will be offered with an expected yield of 7.5% from the mixed-use development. It is situated in the centre of Chester close to the Grosvenor shopping centre and opposite the Roman Amphitheatre.

Latest News

Four new tenants for Port of Liverpool building ProPertY GroUP downing is enjoying a strong fourth quarter after welcoming four new tenants to the iconic Port of Liverpool Building.

Legal firm Forrester’s, health and wellness consultancy the Liverpool Lifestyle Lounge, Fairtrades and the Mediterranean Shipping Company have all moved in to the waterfront building, the group has confirmed.

Forresters, which specialises in intellectual Property (iP), has relocated its North West office from hamilton Square in Birkenhead to a 4,250 sq ft office in the building. the Mediterranean Shipping Company, one of the world’s largest shipping lines, has let 1,850 sq ft as part of a move from the india Buildings. the Liverpool Lifestyle

Lounge has taken on 460 sq ft while Uk trade association Fairtrades has taken 900 sq ft after moving from its northern office in Prenton on the Wirral. robin ellis, senior agency surveyor at downing, says: “it’s encouraging to see such a diverse range of companies, from new start-ups to established conglomerates, making a home for themselves in this prestigious building. “our flexi-offices provide a great, scalable solution which works really well for companies of all shapes and sizes and we’re continuing to see strong demand from the market for this offering, as evidenced by this latest raft of lettings.”

Alison Houghton-Corfield, Robin Ellis, and Judy Abramson

SMes boost Manchester office activity deMANd For smaller office space in Manchester is rising thanks to a ‘go for it’ factor among entrepreneurs and startup businesses, according to the latest Net Stock Absorption (NSA) report from Colliers international. the report shows an average deal size of 3,290 sq ft of office and a ‘strong level of activity’ for offices between 3,000 sq ft and 6,000 sq ft. it says the demand is down to small and medium-sized business expanding after a five years of economic stagnation in the market. rupert Barron, director of national offices at the Manchester office of Colliers international, says: “An increasing emphasis on investment in emerging sectors and growth hungry entrepreneurs in Manchester is reflected by start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMes) occupying and expanding into the city’s office space.

“We believe that this burgeoning strategy of investment by the city in young and growing areas of business leaves Manchester well positioned to outperform the

Rupert Barron

wider Uk economy over the next few years.”

Meanwhile, offices over 10,000 sq ft have seen a rise in demand in areas such as Piccadilly, Castlefield and the Northern Quarter. in contrast, travel Jigsaw’s move into 63,096 sq ft offices at Sunlight house, Quay Street, was the only 25,000 sq ft-plus office move of 2013 to-date.

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News Sales & Lettings

‘Strong demand’ at commercial property auctions COMMERCIAL PROPERTY auctioneers in the region have enjoyed successful results at recent sales events.

Sutton Kersh is currently preparing for its final auction of 2013 on 12 December, and is hoping the high proceeds and “standing room only” from the year’s previous six events continues.

So far in 2013, Sutton Kersh has sold a total of 520 commercial, residential and development lots and generated more than £34m.

Cathy Holy, auction manageress at Sutton Kersh Auctions, says: “We have seen strong demand for all types of stock, including vacant and tenanted residential, commercial and development land, as investors continue to show that property remains the investment vehicle of choice.”

Meanwhile Pugh’s October auction, which featured a number of commercial opportunities, also achieved an 88% sales success rate when it took place at Aintree Racecourse.

Birkenhead’s vacant Cole Street Primary School attracted fierce bidding when it was sold on behalf of Wirral Council for £180,000.

The property had a guide price of £110,000.

The local authority listed five lots in total at the auction and, having achieved 100% sales success, is now said to have listed a further two lots at Pugh’s 3 December auction.

A former Masonic Hall in Birkenhead with function suites, bars, offices and meeting rooms, and Huyton’s former Knowsley Magistrates Court were also among Pugh’s October offerings.

Paul Thompson, director at Pugh & Co, says: “We are delighted with the continued success in Merseyside and in particular the results on the school and also the Masonic Hall.”

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New arrivals at Meridian Business Village Meridian Business Village

A TRIO of new arrivals will move into Meridian Business Village in Hunts Cross, where office space from just £1 per square foot has caught the eye of occupants.

Developed by Prospect GB, which appointed Keppie Massie and Hitchcock Wright & Partners as agents for the development, the offices have

welcomed two new lettings in November with another due for completion before the end of the month.

Andrew Byrne of Keppie Massie says: “Availability is now down to the last few remaining units and we would urge prospective tenants to contact us at the earliest opportunity to secure

their place at this thriving business community.

Available units range from 1,313 sq ft up to the largest unit, which measures 10,780 sq ft in size. However, Brian Ricketts of Hitchcock Wright & Partners says the units are flexible. He says: “The flexibility of the business space at Meridian Business Village has been a competitive advantage - we are able to configure different units and different floors according to the size required by each tenant. By doing this we have welcomed a number of small and medium sized companies but we are also accommodating larger businesses.”

For more information contact Andrew Byrne on 0151 255 0755 or Brian Ricketts on 0151 227 3400.

Warrington’s dallam Court offices now fully occupied rAM ProPertieS has welcomed Claranet Soho as the final tenant in the flagship dallam Court office building in Warrington town centre.

Claranet Soho, an international internet Service Provider (iSP), has moved from its previous base in Birchwood Boulevard into dallam Court, one of rAM Properties’ four buildings in the Central Station and the Golden Square Shopping Centre area.

Bob McLaughlin, founder of rAM Properties, says: “there definitely seems to be a change in perception and priorities of clients and our premises offer many advantages, having close proximity to rail and bus stations, town centre facilities for staff, yet close to the motorway junctions. in addition to this all our buildings offer high specifications including lighting, climate control, it and layouts, yet still maintaining character and personality.”

Alan tavernor, Claranet Soho, says: “We looked at many sites prior to making our decision but rAM stood out as the only company we spoke to who were able to meet every one of our requirements

around local transport accessibility and office specification. their operation is run very efficiently and rAM’s help in our office fit-out prior to the move was first class.”

the move means the dallam court development is now full and rAM Properties is now concentrating on ribban Court, which is already 50% occupied.

Richard McLaughlin from RAM Properties with Alan Tavernor, Claranet SOHO

News Commercial

Unprecedented growth for Liverpool law firm J B LeitCh is experiencing ‘unprecedented growth’ in tough economic times after profits increased by 36% over three years. the Liverpool-based law firm recorded a 47% increase in turnover over the past three years and saw profits grow by more than a third in the same period. in that time the firm has also moved to a new 12,000 sq ft office on duke Street in the city centre and employs three times as many staff as it did in 2010, with a current total of 84 workers. it has announced the figures despite a 2013 Legal 500 review published this month, which

Paul Sweeney

Optimism for regional office take-up

ARCHITECT CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS IN LIVERPOOL OFFICE

Blackpool regeneration

Edward Pavilion building

CONFIDENCE IN the office market is growing across the UK with a 7% increase in office take-up in Q3 compared to the five-year quarterly average, according to a report by GVA. While Liverpool office take-up was 50,000 sq ft in Q3, nearly 20,000 sq ft lower than the average, it was responsible for the fourth largest regional office deal when law firm Hampson Hughes moved into the 34,000 sq ft Edward Pavilion building.

The report states businesses in Liverpool are still cautious but enjoy the lowest rent out of nine city regions at £21 per square foot.

Manchester also saw take-up below the average but this is expected to rise dramatically in the coming months as more grade A space

indicated the economy in Liverpool is still recovering from recession.

Jonathan Leitch, principal solicitor, said: “our growth over the last three years is testament to the excellent service our staff provide to clients. We are dedicated to dealing with each case efficiently and professionally and this reflects directly in the returns clients see.” the law firm attributes its large South east client base to its recession-proof success and Paul Sweeney of J B Leitch was in London recently to represent the firm at the Service Charge Summit, hosted by tanfield Chambers in the capital.

becomes available.

The report says: “In central Manchester, whilst the completed transactions within the last quarter are slightly below average, the level and depth of demand being encountered will come to fruition over the next six months. There is over 150,000 sq ft of Grade A space currently under offer, and in excess of 400,000 sq ft of named demand across all grades of space. The completion of One St Peters Square in March 2014 will provide a muchneeded injection of stock.”

Manchester is also seeing increased activity in the pre-development pipeline including a new 175,000 sq ft development at the former Odeon site on Oxford Road, says the report.

LiVerPooL-BASed architect CLA is celebrating five years at its Connect Business Village offices in the city after moving from Southport in 2008. the 34-year-old firm, whose latest projects include a large housing regeneration project in Blackpool and a hotel in Anfield, has also rebranded in that time from its original name of Condy and Lofthouse to CLA. CLA managing director ron White says: “We were often perceived as a small provincial practice which did not accurately portray our national presence and growing numbers of staff, nor the range of larger projects we were engaged in. the decision to relocate has paid dividends in terms

of the company’s profile and visibility.

“We won’t pretend that the last few years have not had their problems but the recession focussed our attention on how we operated the business. We implemented more efficient procedures, invested in new technology and increased productivity.”

CLA has recently designed a new 69-bedroom hotel on the site of the Cabbage hall pub in Anfield.

Planning permission has been granted for renovation of the firedamaged building and the finished development is expected to be popular with fans of nearby Liverpool Football Club because of its proximity to Anfield Stadium.

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News Leisure

£71.1m sale of Great Northern Warehouse finalised the £71.1M sale of the Great Northern Warehouse in deansgate is complete, paving the way for possible refurbishment and improvements to the current lettings, according to its new owners. resolution Property has purchased the former Great Northern railway warehouse from previous owner Capital and regional and the buyer was advised by law firm irwin Mitchell.

Patrick duffy, real estate partner at irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office says: “the Great Northern Warehouse is not only one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings, it is also a highly valuable asset with a solid range and mix of tenants. My client sees opportunities for developing the site further – something which it has done successfully in other parts of the Uk

including London.” the grade ii-listed 330,000 sq ft warehouse was opened as a leisure complex in 1996 and currently houses an AMC cinema, retail businesses, the All Star Lanes bowling alley, bars, restaurants and a 1,200-space car park. robert Wolstenholme, director at resolution Property, says: “the Great Northern Warehouse is a strong regional asset which, as a result of some good letting activity, benefits from a healthy income stream from a diverse range of occupiers, including a number interesting independent operators who are breathing new life into the property.” resolution Property is the former owner of Manchester’s Printworks leisure complex, which it sold for £93.3m.

Great Northern Warehouse

DEVELOPER SOUGHT FOR HOYLAKE GOLF RESORT

A SEARCH is underway for a developer to take on the “unique opportunity” of delivering a world class golf resort at Hoylake.

An advisory team led by AECOM with IPW... (In Partnership With...) and DTZ Hospitality Group has been appointed by Wirral Council for the scheme.

It will see the development of a luxury hotel with a restaurant, health, leisure and conferencing facilities, an internationally acclaimed golf course and an associated development 10 MOVE COMMERCIAL

commensurate with a high quality golf resort.

The search was recently launched using the European Union Competitive Dialogue procedure, known as The Chest, and Wirral Council leader, Councillor Phil Davies, says: “The commencement of this stage means we can move from expressions of interest to confirmation of concrete, firm bids and the appointment of a preferred developer. It is a complicated process and we are working to a

tight schedule but I hope to be able to announce our chosen partner when Wirral hosts The Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club next July.”

Richard Dawes at DTZ Hospitality Group, adds: “This is a very exciting opportunity, providing a unique opportunity for the hotel and golfing world to be part of Hoylake’s rich heritage of golf.

There is a gap in the market for an upscale resort of this nature at Hoylake and Wirral, and we expect strong international and domestic interest in this opportunity.”

rise in visitors boosts Greater Manchester economy the NUMBer of visitors heading to Greater Manchester’s waterfront destination, the Quays, rose by 9% last year, providing a boost to the economy.

New figures from the Scarborough tourism economic Activity Monitor (SteAM) report which is accepted as the most reliable assessment of tourist activity in Britain, show the visitors contributed to £251.6m being spent in the area. the spending total therefore provided a 9% increase on last year’s spend on the tourism industry in the local economy, as attractions such as iMW North (part of imperial War Museums), MediaCityUk, the Lowry and emirates old trafford helped attract visitors. the numbers of jobs supported by tourism in the Quays is also said to have increased by 12% in 2012 to 3,048, as a range of sectors including hotels, shopping, food and beverage and transport brought new employment.

Graham Boxer, director of iWM North, part of imperial War Museums, said: “With some of the Uk’s most iconic buildings and venues, the Quays has become a high quality visitor destination, so it was great to see visitor numbers increasing last year. “there is even more we can do - a major programme of cultural activities, for example, will continue to make the Quays a must visit destination in the months and years ahead.”

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All enquiries: 01925 634442 enquiries@ramproperties.com

News Developments

Wigan plans £60m town centre overhaul WiGAN CoUNCiL has revealed a new £60m retail and leisure scheme that could transform the town centre and create up to 400 jobs. developer Vale retail is planning to revamp the Galleries shopping centre into a cinema, gym, restaurants and a leisure complex as well as larger retail units and a refurbished car park. An application for the scheme will be submitted in the coming months once a consultation period is finished. the plans also include an update to the Makinson Arcade, which could change its name to the Makinson Quarter. the scheme would also move Wigan Market to its original location on Market

Street. the plans mean the town reverts to its original street plan once complete with a leisure area around a new square.

Councillor david Molyneux, deputy leader of Wigan Council and cabinet member for the economy, says: “this is a tremendous vote of confidence in Wigan Borough. here we have a private company wanting to invest a huge sum of money in our town during a challenging time for the economy. it’s fantastic news and demonstrates again the massive potential of this area. the plans will be on display at the Ashton Gallery in the Galleries centre on Friday 22 November and Saturday 23 November.

Cheshire firm lines up £120m production facility

Proposed Wigan development

GREEN LIGHT FOR £100M SALFORD SCHEME

One Greengate development

David Smith

MACCLESFIELD-BASED pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca will invest £120m in a new production facility at its site, securing 300 jobs in the process.

The firm produces Zoladex, an injectable treatment for patients with prostrate cancer, and plans top begin production of the new facility in 2013.

Work is due to be completed by 2016 and the first products will arrive in 2017. The construction process could lead to a further 200 jobs created on a temporary basis.

David Smith, executive vicepresident of operations at AstraZeneca, says: “This new facility will support the continued production 12 MOVE COMMERCIAL

of this important medicine in the UK. Having considered a number of options globally, we believe it is the right choice to build the new facility in Macclesfield, which has been home to Zoladex manufacturing - and the expertise that goes along with it - for many years. This investment is a further signal of our long term commitment to the UK, and to the North West."

Macclesfield is the company’s second largest manufacturing site with over 1,000 employees working on a range of different products. The plant is responsible for the manufacturing and packing over five million tablets every day for worldwide export.

PiNNACLe developments NW has been granted permission for the £100m one Greengate development, which will contain 497 apartments and nearly 6,000 sq ft of commercial space. the scheme, which includes four buildings, has been designed by oMi Architects for the Greengate area and two of the towers will be among the tallest buildings visible across the Manchester skyline when they are completed. the land, situated alongside the river irwell, will include four buildings with the shortest 13 storeys and the tallest 31 storeys high – which will be 100 metres in height but is still some way

off the tallest building in Manchester, the 168-metre Beetham tower. the proposal includes a 248-space car park, a 200-rack cycle park and landscaped courtyard for residents, according to the planning documents, as well as strategically placed commercial units on areas where public footfall will be highest.

Work at the 1.2-acre site is expected to begin in January 2014 after several false starts on the land previously.

Permission has been granted to BSC Group to create the ambitious Canapus Greengate high-rise scheme but BS Construction, the firm behind the scheme, entered administration in 2008.

Developments News

Work begins on Scandinavian House THE FORMER Scandinavian Hotel will be renamed The Arch when it reopens as a mixed-use retail and student accommodation development, developer Downing has announced.

The Arch, named after the nearby Chinese arch signalling the entry into Chinatown, will include a 12,000 sq ft retail unit on the ground floor of the development and work has began on site this month. However, Downing says an agent has not been appointed for the space but will be in ‘due course’.

Downing says the scheme, which also includes 241-bed student accommodation on the upper floors, will be open in September 2014 in time for the new university year. The plans, designed by architect Shedkm, include retaining much of existing building but demolishing infill buildings on Nelson Street to connect Chinatown with

How The Arch will look

Central Village.

Scandinavian House, some of which dates back to 1859, has been empty since the 1980s. Originally, plans were in place to convert the building into a hotel complex with a bar and restaurant but

earlier in 2013 this was changed to student accommodation to take advantage of the growing number of overseas students moving to the area.

Downing has also announced a second student accommodation scheme, named

The Electra, on land formerly used as a car park behind Federation House in Hope Street. It will comprise of 90 studio apartments and will be completed by September 2014.

CoMMerCiAL NEW HOTEL ProPertY CoNVerSioN PLAN FOR oN the riSe QUEEN INSURANCE BUILDINGS

Will Rees

A MixtUre of short supply and demand fuelled by the government’s help to Buy scheme means a growing number of developers are choosing to convert commercial property into new homes, according to new research. research by Bridging Finance shows the commercial vacancy rate across the Uk is now 7-9% and a government extension to laws allowing developers to change the use of B1 offices to residential dwellings will make it easier to turn

an office or shop into new homes to cope with the demand. the move could see more residential properties appearing in city centre areas where there are empty commercial properties and, according to Liverpool-based development specialist rees Straw.

Will rees, director at rees Straw, says: “the help to Buy equity loan scheme has been a shot in the arm to many developers, resulting in increasing rates of sale across new homes sites. there have been 10,000 new build reservations in the scheme’s initial four months of operation. the knock on effect of this is an increase in demand for land for new outlets across the north west, with house builders stepping up acquisition rates on the back of increased unit targets for forthcoming years.”

Colin Sinclair

BrUNtWood has submitted plans to Liverpool City Council for a new hotel and restaurant at Liverpool’s Queen insurance Buildings. it is hoped the proposed development will form part of the “exciting plans” for the future of the grade-ii building on Castle Street, according to Bruntwood’s director of property marketing, Colin Sinclair.

Full details of the scheme were unavailable at the time of going to press, but Colin says: “We can confirm an application has been

submitted for the Castle Street elevation of the Queen insurance Buildings for a hotel. the space has been vacant since dWS Solicitors moved out three years ago.”

Colin adds that, if given the go ahead, the hotel scheme in the heart of the city’s commercial district, which also includes a restaurant, will enhance the independent retail offering and Bruntwood’s existing office accommodation. it is believed it may also attract additional restaurant plans in the future.

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News Retail

£8.7m revamp for New Smithfield Market

Consultation to drive support for retail in Preston

The market site

MANCHESTER City Council is proposing to revamp New Smithfield Market in an £8.7m development including repairs to the building and refurbishment of fish and produce markets.

The council has announced plans for the east Manchester site including a £4.5m refurbishment of the fish market. Funding will be provided by a £3m from the council and funds from the Marine Management Organisation.

The plans also include a £4m revamp of the produce market.

The first phase of development will include an initial £800,000 investment from the council with further investment promises once take up of the rental spaces begins.

Plans also include £250,000 worth of repairs to the Fresh Direct building and the sale of the empty flower market to fund redevelopments. It is expected to take six years once all of the developments are complete, according to the council report.

The market was opened in 1872 and moved to the Openshaw site 100 years later in 1974. Over 40,000 visitors every month visit the site, which is the largest wholesale market in the North West, covering 35 acres. The site was originally earmarked for a £20m revamp in 2008 but the plans were scrapped in 2011 following cutbacks.

14 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Miller Arcade, part of Preston city centre’s retail space

A CONSULTATION is underway into the future of Preston city centre, as it looks to strengthen its retail position.

Preston City Council is seeking the public’s view on plans to “expand the city centre workforce to drive further economic growth, supporting shops, leisure and cultural activities”.

A six-week consultation into the local authority’s preferred options of the City Centre Plan is running until 11 December, and follows the themes of ‘securing economic vitality’ by ensuring the centre drives economic growth in Preston and Lancashire; ‘creating a sense of place’ by enhancing key historic assets with a new built environment for the 21st Century; and ‘enhancing movement and accessibility’ by modernising public transport and prioritising pedestrian movement.

Councillor John Swindells, cabinet member for planning and regulation, says: “Planning positively for the future of the city centre is crucial. We must look at elements of the City Centre Plan from all angles to ensure the council’s aspirations, and those of local residents, are met in future developments.”

North West jeweller starts 18-month expansion plan at Metquarter Proposed expansion of Mococo store

North WeSt jewellery chain Mococo will more than quadruple the size of its store in Liverpool’s Metquarter, as part of its ambitious expansion plans for the next 18 months.

Mococo, which has five stores across the region and North Wales, in Chester, Mold, ruthin, Wrexham and the current 352 sq ft space within the Liverpool city centre retail destination, will increase

to a 1,585sq ft outlet. the expansion, which will also allow the “affordable luxury” retailer to stock additional brands, was announced after sales across its five stores were 40% up on last year.

Mococo, which was founded in 2006 by Maureen and Lee hooson with a £250 start up investment, has had a store within the Metquarter since 2009.

Jennina o’Neill, Metquarter centre manager, says: “Mococo has proven to be a real success story and we are delighted that they have extended their offer with us.” the announcement comes as Metquarter also welcomes the arrival of a new Miss Francesca Couture fashion store, from Liverpool designer Francesca kearns.

Training News

Seddon to train 50 new apprentices Jonathan Seddon

SeddoN WiLL train 50 new apprentices, create 90 new jobs and organise 134 work placements after being granted National Skills Academy for Construction status, it has revealed. the placements will take place across the North West and the Midlands, according to the builder, and includes training for subcontractors, events in schools and support for courses involving construction at local schools across the North West and beyond. training and apprenticeships will take place alongside £157m of building projects set to be completed by Seddon over the next three years. the award of the status follows Seddon being named employer of the Year by the Uk

Deloitte’s North West offices appoint 63 graduates

DELOITTE LLP has welcomed 63 new graduate recruits to its North West offices this year, according to the firm’s 2013 new starter survey.

A significant number of the new hires at the professional services firm were also said to have come from universities in the region, with 12% graduating from Liverpool University and others coming from Manchester.

The survey also shows that 50% of respondents applied for the graduate roles having heard about them through their university, highlighting the “importance of high visibility for businesses on campus”.

Sean Beech, partner and head of the Deloitte Liverpool office, suggests that North West cities’ popularity as university destinations has helped

to drive top graduates to its regional offices.

He says: “We’re very pleased to welcome a host of talented young people to our offices, and to see that the students who were attracted to Liverpool for university are choosing to continue their careers here.

“While many graduates typically gravitate towards London after university, Liverpool and Manchester are bucking the trend by offering not only excellent academic institutions, but also by being exciting cities to live and work in.

World-class cities equal world-class universities, and the universities must continue their investment in education in order to carry on attracting a high calibre of ambitious young people.”

Contractors Group (UkCG) for the second time running after it employed 75 new apprentices in 2012.

Seddon managing director Jonathan Seddon says: "this is recognition from the National Skills Academy for Construction of our commitment to making a difference for local neighbourhoods and the industry as a whole through high-quality training programmes and by providing jobs and training in the communities wherever we work.” the scheme will be delivered by the Sector Skills Council and industry training Board for Construction, which manages the National Skills Academy for Construction accreditation.

Search for next wave of entrepreneurs A SeArCh to find the next wave of entrepreneurial women is underway in Manchester, as part of a wider Uk initiative.

Manchester City Council has agreed to support the Make A Wave scheme, which aims to train 250 women in total to become social business leaders and start their own projects to bring significant benefits to their communities. run by ogunte, the one-year training programme helps women to create their own social enterprise projects, arming them with the right skills to get started on the path to success. the programme will involve a business skills ‘bootcamp’, online training exercises and mentoring from accomplished social entrepreneurs, plus a series of local networking events – all aimed at encouraging each participant to develop their own social project by the end of the course.

Jo McGrath, of enterprise Stuff Ltd, who will act as regional connector for Manchester’s 50strong Make A Wave cohort, says: “during the year, we will work together to develop business ideas, network with other amazing innovators and gain invaluable experience and knowledge."

For more information visit www.ogunte.com.

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Bitesize thinking

Paul Cope

founder, Cope and Co

In my crystal ball…

Things are starting to pick up – people are spending more money, whether it’s developers signing off projects, businesses expanding into new property or companies acquiring and merging. I met a company recently that manufactures nuts and bolts whose turnover has increased 200% in the past six months, which is a great indication from the front line that construction and development projects are on the increase.

I think the next 12 months will see a continuation of that, but it’s unlikely we’ll see a return to pre-2008 levels for a while. There is still an element of caution in the air, and I think that will continue as people find their feet once again. As always in what remain tough economic times though, the best run companies are likely to thrive whilst others struggle.

What it all means for us is more work, and busy times ahead. We’ve just moved into new offices with a view to growing our team in the coming year as we hope to win new clients and do more work for existing ones.

If only I’d known…

I’m rarely surprised by the goings on of business – if anything I’m surprised by how often people fall out about the same things over and over again. If the industry had known businesses still don’t have their terms and conditions or company structures in good shape, which leaves them exposed when it comes to chasing payments or resolving internal issues, they could have avoided these problems.

I said before that things are picking up, but that doesn’t mean everyone in business is going to be in better shape in six months’ time, never mind in a year. A lack of cash can disrupt even the most successful of businesses, and people need to make sure that they are protected and not get caught up in the excitement of the deal and neglect the details.

My favourite building with...

Jason Maher associate, architect, Condy Lofthouse Architects

The Stockholm public library To an architect being asked to choose your favourite building is like being asked to choose a favourite song. But if pushed I always seem to recall the same building, The Stockholm public library, introduced to me while studying my degree at John Moore’s University.

Designed by Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund and one of the city's most notable structures it was opened in 1928 and illustrates the architect’s gradual shift from classicism to functionalism. It was also the first library in the country to allow people to take books directly off the shelf, a radical shift in thinking at the time.

The striking simplicity of its two forms, a square base and a round drum, are obvious to the visitor but behind this interplay of forms hides the complex symbolism between the ordered world (square) and the universe (circle).

With books becoming more and more virtual objects, the power of libraries and what they hold has to me become somewhat diluted, but with the Stockholm Library you can actually walk through an idea.

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“With the Stockholm Library you can actually walk through an idea.”

Bitesize thinking

Robin Ellis senior agency surveyor, Downing

Curriculum vITAE Main duties: Making sure all our buildings are full, or as full as possible, with happy occupiers.

Education: Still ongoing.

First job: Waiting tables – it should be like national service because it leads to good life skills!

Shortest job: Security guard at the student union - I was allegedly drunk and disorderly on my first night and surprisingly they didn’t want me back.

What’s the secret to your success? I really don’t think I have one.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? It is a wise man who knows he is stupid.

What advice would you give to somebody starting out in the industry? Work for a company (for free at first if necessary, times are tough) that gives you a range of experience, then you can make an informed choice about which direction you want to move in.

What makes Downing different? Our flexible approach and can-do attitude.

Tell us a little bit about Downing’s plans over the next 12 months: Continuing to be market leaders as a provider of quality commercial and student accommodation, with some really exciting development and refurbishment projects coming to fruition.

Tweet all about it The 5 best commercial tweets

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@Turnersouthern Great to see a proliferation of cranes across the Manchester skyline once again. #itsabouttime #recovery @CllrWendySimon Well done to all Liverpool Cruise Terminal staff for winning Cruise Critic Award, proud of each and every one of you #itsliverpool @RICSNorth Congrats to all the winners at today's RICS Awards Grand Final especially One Angel Square, Manchester for winning Project of the Year! @AndyCliffSCL Game changing £300m Liverpool 2 port development project forges ahead, staying on course for 2015 launch date @EnterpriseZones 14 Oct More good news for Enterprise Zones as Chinese partners invest in new £800 million Manchester Airport City

Commercial

STATS

£4.125m The price Liverpool’s Cavern Walks Shopping Centre sold for when it recently went under the hammer. An unnamed Lancashire-based development company purchased the retail complex, which also includes offices and the world famous Cavern Club, synonymous with The Beatles.

481,000 The estimated number of private sector businesses in the North West at the start of 2013, according to the latest figures from the government’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The figures also estimated 4.9m businesses across the UK - an increase of 102,000 compared to the start of 2012.

2014 The increase to UK retail sales values on a like-forlike basis from August 2012. That’s according to British Retail Consortium and KPMG figures.

634,000 The number of Merseyside homes and businesses which could have access to fibre broadband

by July 2016, after five local authorities signed up to a £15.9m ‘Merseyside Connected’ partnership with BT.

200,377 sq ft The total Manchester office take up in Q3 of 2013, according to the Manchester Office Quarterly Market Update by CBRE. The total take up this year so far stands at 672,700, which is on a par with the full year totals in 2011 and 2012 despite there being one quarter to go.

3.2% The increase in the amount spent in the retail industry in September 2013, compared with September 2012. That’s according to the Office for National Statistics’ latest estimates of retail sales, which are said to continue to show growth in the retail industry.

Appointments New business development manager for Liverpool Waterfront Alison Kelly has been appointed

by Liverpool Waterfront Business Partnership (LWBP) to promote the city’s iconic area to the world.

The two year contract will see Alison work on ensuring the transformation of the waterfront in recent years is built on.

She has previously worked at Merseyside Tourism Conference Bureau before joining Cheshire West and Chester Council as place marketing manager.

Sue Grindrod, chair of LWBP and Gower Street Estates, which owns and manages Albert Dock, says: “Our aim is for Liverpool’s waterfront to be recognised alongside some of the world’s other great waterfronts and a key focus of ours is to engage more businesses, attractions and stakeholders on the waterfront to help enliven it throughout the year, both on and off the water, night and day.

“In appointing Alison Kelly we have someone who understands the city and has great experience in place marketing and can help take us to the next level.”

Alison Kelly

OBI Property appoints new associate director Manchesterbased OBI Property has appointed Darren Matthews as an associate director.

Darren Matthews Darren, previously an associate at AA Projects, has joined the firm’s building consultancy firm which specialises in dilapidations, fitout, office refurbishment and new build.

At the firm he will work with current clients such as DRL, developer MEPC, Allied London, Keoghs Solicitors and Warner Estates.

Speaking about the appointment, Darren says: "I am looking forward to working with OBI Property, the company is growing quickly and it is involved in some very exciting building projects.

"To be given the chance to be part 20 MOVE COMMERCIAL

of the team was too good an opportunity to pass up and I am relishing the challenges that lie ahead in my new role."

AA Projects appoints directors for new Manchester office Property consultancy AA Projects has appointed three new directors after opening a new office on Kennedy Street in central Manchester.

Justin Myall (pictured) and John Doyle will run the new Manchester office after moving from Gardiner and Theobald and Styles and Wood respectively. A third appointment sees John Murphy of Buro Four join as director of project management.

Justin was a partner at Gardiner and Theobald while John Doyle previously worked on the Liverpool ONE development and the Rock, Bury. Both will lead the team at the seventh regional AA Projects office in Manchester, working with clients such as Honda UK, Santander and Land Securities as well as several new contracts.

Justin Myall

New managing director at Naylor and Walkden Retail fit-out specialist Naylor and Walkden (Fit Out) Limited has appointed Damian Teal as its new Damian Teal managing director after he left his role at construction director at contractor Askam Construction, it has announced.

Damian has experience in construction management, building and refurbishment and will help to deliver fit-out and refurbishment across the UK for the Wigan-based firm.

He says: “This is a very exciting opportunity to build on the company’s reputation for quality fit out and refurbishment contracts for a growing number of repeat business clients” Naylor and Walkden has refurbished several North West hotels, restaurants, cafés and commercial properties.

Financial News

Commercial property investment rises by 7%

Lisa Greenhalgh

INVESTMENT IN commercial property transactions in the North West increased by £20m in Q3 compared to Q2 and continued to exceed 2012 totals, according to a new report.

The UK Investment Transactions (UKIT) report by Lambert Smith Hampton reveals there was £313.2m worth of investment in commercial property in 2013 in the North West compared to £292.46m in the 2012, a 7% increase.

The key market in the region is in the industrial sector, where activity rose by 211% compared to the previous quarter thanks to a trio of major deals including Standard Life purchasing the 630,000 sq ft Omega North building in Warrington from Travis Perkins, WP Perkins purchasing the £45.25m Trinity Bridge House in Manchester and Benson Elliot taking on the £40m Fishergate Centre in Preston.

The retail market grew by 36% quarter-to-quarter to £116.1m while the office sector dropped 48% from £95.9m to £46m. However, it remained over four times the £10.5m figure from Q3 in 2012.

Looking ahead, Abid Jaffry, director and regional head of Capital Markets at LSH, says: “As confidence within the occupational market increases and the regions offer value compared to central London in particular, we can expect to see a continued increase in investment activity in the final quarter of 2013.”

£64m fund for Merseyside businesses

THE MERSEYSIDE Special Investment Fund (MSIF) has revealed it will invest £64m into local businesses over the next 10 years after the success of previous investments.

Firms can apply for investments between £250 to upwards of £2m over the next decade through the venture capital and loan funding provider, which has helped over 1,500 Merseyside businesses over the past 19 years.

The £64m pot has been raised through previous successful investments dating back as far as 2010 and will be used by startup and other firms for expansion and acquisitions.

Lisa Greenhalgh, chief operating officer at MSIF, says: “When we launched the Merseyside Loan & Equity Fund in 2010 we

anticipated around £25m to invest up to 2015.

However returns on investments have exceeded expectations and with our additional funds we now have under management, we will have £64m to invest in local businesses during the next 10 years.”

Previous beneficiaries of the fund include manufacturer and packer KapaK Foods Limited, which secured a £2.4m finance package to move to a larger premises at the Abbotsfield Road Industrial estate and MSIF expects more applications in future.

Lisa added: “It is clear that there is a strong need for alternative sources of finance for small businesses and we are delighted that we are going to be able to continue to offer this for many more years to come.”

Manchester set for hotel investment CONFIDENCE IS returning to the Manchester hotel market after a HotStats report revealed a 19% increase in GOPPAR (gross operating profit per available room) in August 2013 compared to the same month last year.

Proposed Yotel for Manchester

The figure was 8.9% higher than the national average and could lead to more investment in Manchester hotels in the coming months, according to a 2013 Q4 hotel report

by Savills, which expects £3bn investment in hotels in 2013 in the UK.

Manchester has benefited from being a satellite city for the Olympic Games in 2012, suggests the report.

It also outlined the rise in new concepts of hotels set to arrive across the region in 2014. The report says Savills expects ‘pod’ hotels to challenge the more established hotel operators in future.

It specifically mentions Yotel as one of the new brand of hotels set to arrive in Manchester. Plans for a new 258-bedroom hotel and bar, owned by the Yo! Sushi brand, have been submitted to Manchester City Council on the site of the former Union Bank of Manchester building at 12 Piccadilly.

The report says hotels such as Yotel will match the trend for pod hotels. It says: “While rooms are small they are attractively designed with laptops, free WiFi and flatscreen TV's. The hotels’ 'lounging' areas and bars are also seen as a key attraction counteracting the smaller bedrooms.”

MOVE COMMERCIAL 21

By Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk

Commercial Success Some of the biggest and brightest names in commercial property had the chance to shine at this year’s Your Move Property Awards.

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The Your Move Property Awards 2013 Event Special

The tenth annual glittering event, which took place in Lutyens Crypt at Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral, recognised the industry’s achievements in a number of awards categories including Best Commercial Scheme, Best Office Development, Best Commercial Agent and Best Commercial Landlord.

Chief executive of Knowsley Chamber of Commerce, Lesley MartinWright, hosted the prestigious black tie ceremony, and was also a member of the independent judging panel.

This year’s event had a disco glam theme, and guests also enjoyed a cocktail reception followed by a delicious three-course meal served up by Liverpool’s renowned 60 Hope Street restaurant.

Office Development of the Year

Best Commercial Scheme sponsored by Concept LHP Peel Land & Property was crowned the winner of the Best Commercial Scheme award, for its Princes Dock development.

The company was joined on a diverse shortlist by X1 Developments’ Arndale House scheme and Hope Street House by Lawless Properties.

The successful Princes Dock scheme impressed judges as it continues to “provide an impetus to massive future and exciting developments for the city, on both sides of the river”.

On receiving the award for the second year running, Peel’s asset manager, Liza Marco, and development surveyor, Ian Pollitt, said: “We’re pleased to get the recognition for all our hard work.

We’ve got new tenants moving in and there’s lots of activity. We’ve tried to create a community there at Princes Dock.”

sponsored by Riverside Home Ownership Judges recognised developments which had seen former office spaces undergo transformations into “exciting” new offerings in this category.

Liverpool’s Exchange Station by Space Northwest was picked as the winner, from a shortlist which also included The Quay, Prices Dock by Peel Land & Property and Ribban Court, Warrington by RAM Properties.

Exchange Station asset manager Emily Armstrong, from Hansteen, described the victory as a “testament to all the hard work from the design team”.

Neil Pickering, director at Space Northwest, added: “A lot of passion went into the project and right from the investment team to the delivery team, a lot of people believed in it.”

Best Commercial Landlord sponsored by Move Commercial The final commercial award of the evening went to Bruntwood, which was shortlisted alongside runner-up Downing, and also Peel.

Tenant testimonials, customer service, additional services offered to tenants, standards of property maintenance and levels of continual landlord investment were all considered by the judges when picking a winner.

Bruntwood’s head of sales and investment, Colin Forshaw, picked up the accolade and said: “We’re delighted. Next year marks 25 years of Bruntwood being in Liverpool, so it’s a long time of hard work, investment and working with our customers.”

Commercial Agent of the Year sponsored by Maxwell Hodge Mason Owen took the prize for Best Commercial Agent, achieving the judges’ criteria of delivering “outstanding service,” with “people that go the extra mile and produce the highest levels of professionalism to clients”.

The shortlist also featured Hitchcock Wright & Partners, which was named runner up, and Keppie Massie.

Andrew Owen, director of Mason Owen, said: ”It’s nice to win, as it’s recognition of all our hard work during the year.”

60 Hope Street served fine food to guests

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Photos by Peter Kelly

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1. Members of the Move Publishing team with The Design Foundry 2. Robin Ellis (Downing) and Andrew Owen (Mason Owen) 3. Roller skaters greeted guests 4. Emily Armstrong (Hansteen) and Chris Hennessy (Matthews & Goodman) 5. Lesley Martin-Wright with fellow guests on the Knowsley Chamber of Commerce table 6. Members of the property industry dressed for the occasion 7. Stephen Hurrell (Move Publishing), Joe Earnshaw (The Design Foundry) and Natasha Young (Move Publishing) 8. Guests arrived for the spectacular event 9. Guests partied on the disco dancefloor 10. X1 Developments 11. Catherine McCarthy (Move Publishing) and Maria Murphy (Roland Dransfield PR) 12. Ian Pollitt (Peel) with Jim Gill (Commercial BID) and guests at the Peel Land & Property table.

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The Your Move Property Awards 2013 Event Special

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13. Mark Worthington (CBRE) and Chris Lloyd (DTZ) 14. Chris Lloyd (DTZ) with Colin Forshaw (Bruntwood) 15. The Riverside Home Ownership table 16. Lesley Martin-Wright with daughter Antonia and guests on the night 17. Mark Worthington (CBRE), Robin Ellis (Downing) and Andrew Owen (Mason Owen) 18. The Keppie Massie team 19. Tony Reed and Sue Taylor (both Keppie Massie) on the dancefloor 20. The Bruntwood table 21. Fiona Barnet and Kim O’Brien (Move Publishing) being photographed by Stuart Keppie (Keppie Massie) 22. Colin Sinclair (Bruntwood) 23. The Downing table 24. Bruntwood guests enjoyed the celebrations 25. The Move Commercial table.

MOVE COMMERCIAL 25

Stephen Hurrell stephen@movepublishing.co.uk

Having worked at Liverpool-based property consultant Mason Owen for five years, Paul Thorne has entered the industry at one of its most challenging times. However, a top award honouring those who have made the most commercial property deals highlights the impact he has had at the company in such a short space of time.

The real deal

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surveyor, my dad is a commercial property solicitor and apparently my grandad was a surveyor back in the 1960s and 1970s so there is a family connection. I saw my brother doing quite well and thought it looked like an interesting job.”

After a post-graduate MSc at Liverpool John Moores, a one-year conversion course to qualify as a MRICS (Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors), he did work experience at Mason Owen before being offered a job at the company.

“My first role was actually retail agency for about three months before I changed over to the business premises department.

I started at the end of the boom time for the industry and at the start of the recession so it’s been difficult. I went in thinking it was all fun and everybody was having a great time but it’s not been a glamorous period.

“Quite a lot of people I went to college with have been made redundant or had to move out of

“

I’m looking to get involved with big projects, national developers and making a name for myself at Mason Owen.

“

Paul Thorne, surveyor at property consultant Mason Owen, is the EGi Dealmaker of the Year for Merseyside, cementing his place as one of the rising stars of the North West commercial property industry.

However, the award comes as a surprise to Paul. He says: “They asked me to put my name next to the deals I had completed. I didn’t give it a second thought until they phoned up and said I’d won. I thought ‘Mason Owen has won, that’s great’ but they said it was actually me that had won! I was pleased to win but I wouldn’t say I am the most active. It’s just one of those things, and it’s good publicity for the company.”

Having graduated with a degree in history from the University of Leicester and spent time travelling, Paul was originally undecided about what career options he would take.

He says: “A lot of people say they’ve always wanted to be in property but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My brother is a

Liverpool. There’s kind of a lost generation of surveyors really. I was lucky to get in at a time they were still employing and I would have hated to have come out in 2010/2011 because it would have been a nightmare.”

However, Paul says working for Liverpool-based company Mason

Owen has proved to him that a career in property was the correct choice. He says: “Mason Owen has a good reputation. It’s seen as a local Liverpool firm because the HQ is in Liverpool but it’s actually national, independent.

“I’m always looking to improve myself and it’s more about the day-to-day stuff; making sure what I’m doing is stimulating. I’m looking to get involved with big projects, national developers and making a name for myself at Mason Owen.”

The role has allowed Paul to be involved in some major Liverpool property developments. He says: “We’ve been involved in Albion House at the bottom of James Street, which was the home of the former White Star Line. It’s a fantastic building but some of the floors hadn’t been occupied since the 1960s. Eventually somebody bought it and will turn it into a Titanic hotel. It is satisfying to see such a famous building being used.

“Liverpool has got so many of

Paul Thorne, surveyor, Mason Owen Rising Star

these fantastic buildings and they’re probably not being used to their potential. It’s probably because a lot of money needs to be spent on them and in this market you are not going to spend a lot of money speculatively on a 30,000 sq ft listed building because it’ll cost too much. A lot of them are still derelict but it is good to see Albion House back on to the market.”

Paul says the variety of the job is what keeps it interesting. One minute he can be organising grade A office space for a multi-national

client and the next he is working on a small industrial unit in the city. “That’s what appealed to me about the job. You’re not sat behind a desk crunching numbers.

I couldn’t do that,” he explains.

His latest tasks include working on new offices on the Albert Dock and finding tenants for a variety of ex-NHS properties across the city, something Paul labels “a challenge” because of the variety and location of the buildings.

“It’s quite interesting because there are different types of

properties such as a health centre on Edge Lane or an old coach house on Hope Street and Maryland Street. It’s all different types of property and tenants,” he says.

“Some of it is quite difficult. One of them is in Newbury Drive in Huyton in the middle of a housing estate but it’s an old care home. So you automatically have to think differently and come up with different types of uses.”

Paul says the market is “slowly but surely” getting better in the North West as refurbishments and

planning for new build office and industrial space recovers. When asked about his advice to people starting out in the industry, he says: “I would advise new people in the industry to be flexible about what you’re prepared to do and where you’re prepared to go – which is easy for me to say because I got lucky here! Try and take on board as much as you possibly can from the people around you. It’s something I’ve done at Mason Owen. It’s about taking it all in and learning from other people.”

MOVE COMMERCIAL 27

Enjoy work and relax at…

Choose style… Choose life

Newly restyled offices at Albert Dock

Suites available from 480-6,400sqft.

Own front door, easy-in-easy-out terms and nearby parking.

CONTACT US

Andrew Owen 0151 242 3120 andrew.owen@masonowen.com

Simon Jones 0151 708 7334 sjones@arrowcroft.com

Whisky Tasting Night Key events

Photos by Peter Kelly

Industry insiders network at whisky night Prominent members of the region’s commercial property industry sampled some of the finest Scottish whiskies during a special tasting event.

Liverpool’s luxury 60 Hope Street restaurant welcomed John O’Dowd, landlord of the nearby Belvedere pub, to share his whisky expertise with guests. He talked them through the flavours of the selected spirits during the evening, which was hosted by Move Commercial.

Representatives from Bruntwood, CBRE, Mason Owen and Keppie Massie were among those who attended on the night, and they also enjoyed a delicious menu of carefully picked dishes to accompany the whisky. The culinary offering ranged from shepherd’s pie to artisan cheeses.

As well as putting a variety of tipples to the taste test, property experts also enjoyed a chance to network while the food and drinks flowed.

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1. The whisky night provided a chance to network. 2. A selection of Scottish whiskies was served. 3. Stuart Keppie (Keppie Massie). 4. 60 Hope Street played host to the event. 5. Belvedere landlord John O’Dowd. 6. Andrew Owen (Mason Owen). 7. Guests were shown how to taste the spirits. 8. Stuart Keppie (Keppie Massie) and Mark Worthington (CBRE). 9. Whisky samples were perfectly served. 10. Jane Yates (Bruntwood).

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Commercial Catch-up

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Bus station development imminent

The latest Move Commercial map of the region provides an up-to-date glance at the latest news and developments going on across the North West.

Preston Council is considering options for the redevelopment of the recently grade II-listed bus station. A campaign group, Save Preston Bus Station, wants to work with the council to discuss options for the 1960s building after a lengthy campaign M6 to prevent it being demolished.

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Law firm renews India Buildings lease

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Law firm DLA Piper has renewed its lease of the 40,000 sq ft grade A offices at the India Buildings for a further seven years. The company was originally expected to find new offices prior to a major refurbishment of the buildings by developer Green Property.

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Boost for Lady Lever Art Gallery refurbishment

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A planned £2.8m development of Wirral’s Lady Lever Art Gallery has received support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). HLF passed the proposed transformation through its first round, which includes a £149,400 grant. National Museums Liverpool’s plans for the gallery space will see the venue returned to its original architectural design, with displayed collections also being brought “into the 21st century”.

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Plans to turn Manchester city centre’s Corn Exchange into a £15m restaurant and dining hub, along with a specialist food retail space, have been given the go ahead. The application, submitted by Aviva Investors, was approved despite concerns over the scheme being raised by the nearby Printworks, Manchester Cathedral and Chethams School of Music regarding issues OLDHAM LDnoise AM such as additional and waste.

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Warrington’s ALTRINCHAM INC £52m regeneration plan unveiled

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A £52m plan to revitalise the Bridge Street retail area is being lined up by Warrington Borough Council. Muse is the chosen development partner for the proposed scheme, which could see a new market being built on the site of M6 the former Boots building, as well as a state-of-the-art multiplex cinema and a new civic centre. Subject to consultation, ratification and planning approvals, the first construction phases will start on site in Autumn 2014.

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Stephen Hurrell stephen@movepublishing.co.uk

The world’s only single-seat, road legal supercar, the BAC Mono, will be made in Liverpool after BAC founders Neill and Ian Briggs took space at Speke Hall Industrial Estate. For Neill, it is the culmination of 20 years of working with the world’s best cars and he took time out to discuss the niche car maker that is taking on the world.

Gearing up for growth Neill Briggs, who founded Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) alongside his brother Ian in 2009, spent 20 years working on the world’s best cars. So it makes sense that when it came to building his own supercar, it turned out to be something special.

Neill completed a degree in mechanical engineering at Manchester University and then a post-graduate MSc at Loughborough in engineering design, sponsored by Land Rover. After just a year working for Land Rover he moved to Germany to set up his own consultancy with his brother, Ian, who was a graduate of the world-renowned car design course at

34 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Coventry University.

He says: “As you can imagine a lot of the German manufacturers were our clients, including people like Ford Motor Company and the Stuttgartbased manufacturers; Porsche, Mercedes, Maybach and Smart.

Over a 17-18 year period you develop a skill set on working on anything from sports cars to luxury cars, from mass production to low volume production.”

During that period he also worked on the iconic Ford Focus RS hot hatch and Mercedes’ prestigious performance arm AMG. Neill says it was a natural progression to want to design his own car after he and Ian clocked up

combined experience of 40 years in the industry. After setting the company up in 2009 at a Cheshire location it took them just two years to reveal the BAC Mono, the world’s only road legal single-seat supercar.

Built from 97% British parts from suppliers who Neill and Ian had built up relationships with over their careers, the BAC Mono is inspired by cars from Formula One as well as other areas of motor sport such as Formula Two and Three. Neill describes it as a car ‘designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts’.

“We are ambitious, creative individuals. We like to question convention and Mono is a revolutionary not an evolutionary design. What I mean is that normal road cars tend to be an evolution of previous versions; a little bit more fuel efficient, a little cleaner or a little bit faster. Mono is a blank sheet of paper and poses the question; what would a supercar look like if all it was designed to do was to go fast and it was all about the performance and

driving experience?”

After securing distribution agreements in China and the US, the world’s two largest supercar markets, in the first six months after launch the waiting list for the £100,000 Mono has grown to nearly a year.

It soon became clear to Neill that the premises at Holmes Chapel in Chester was too small to cope with the demand for the car, particularly after it clocked up the second fastest time for a road legal car at the Top Gear track and was awarded ‘The Stig’s car of the year’ in 2011.

As a result the company has agreed to take 11,143 sq ft of space at the £2m Langtree development at Speke Hall Industrial Park and plans to begin production at the new facility

by January 2014. The development is the single largest owned industrial estate in Liverpool, covering 370,000 sq ft and enjoys close links with Liverpool John Lennon Airport and nearby motorways.

Neill says: “The area is an automotive area. If you are a financial business you want to be in the City of

Neill Briggs Entrepreneur

Neill Briggs (left) and Ian Briggs

London and if you’re an automotive business you want to be in Liverpool.

It’s where it’s all happening and there’s a real buzz about the area.

There is a lot of regeneration and it is an exciting place to be if you’re involved in the automotive industry.

“We’re very excited about moving to Liverpool. There is a history of automotive excellence in South Liverpool and Jaguar Land Rover’s plant in Speke needs no introduction.”

The decision to move into the

Speke site will create around 60 jobs, including a number of apprenticeships, within five years, says Neill. By expanding into the South Liverpool site the company plans to produce 30 cars in 2014, 60 in 2015 and 150 within five years to meet demand. He also wants the location to become a haven for supercar enthusiasts from all over the world.

“What we’re creating in South Liverpool is a Mono ‘resort’ for want of a better word,” he explained.

“We’re creating a place where customers want to come and visit and where they will want to come and talk to the designers, engineers and technicians that built the car. It’s a lot more personal than perhaps buying a regular car. We can talk to the customers about possible upgrades, get their feedback on the car and tune our option development over the coming years.”

Working with customers is important to Neill, who says the car is popular with high net worth

individuals with ‘five or six’ high-end cars. He says 25% of customers own a Ferrari, 25% own a Lamborghini and 25% own one of each – and the car’s popularity is not bound to the North West, or even the UK. He says: “We’re exporting to the US and China. We’re about to open a new distribution channel to South East Asia. We’re also engaged with the Middle East in distribution. It just reinforces that Liverpool is a great place to do business and I’m proud to say that Mono is built in Liverpool.”

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MOVE COMMERCIAL 37

Expert analysis What does the future hold for businesses in the north west? We speak toWhat a quartet experts getforthe lowdowninon the major issues that will doesof the future to hold businesses affect four key areas industry the coming monthsCONSTRUCTION and years. the North West?

Weofspeak to ainquartet of experts to get the lowdown on the major issues that will affect four key areas of industry in the coming months and years.

ANDREW RUSSELL director, Russells Construction

What’s next for…

Construction Offices Finance Urban regeneration OFFICES

EUAN BLAKE account director, Innesco

38 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Take up in Manchester’s office market looks to be on course to surpass 1m sq ft for the first time since 2010, according to latest Q3 office research by the UK’s top office agents.

Colliers states that despite the lack of new office schemes in progress, new Grade A space will become available via projects such as Hines and Manchester & Metropolitan Properties plans to redevelop the former Odeon cinema site into 178,000 sq ft of offices and construction of Allied London’s 1 Hardman Street at Spinningfields being able to commence after MediaCom committed to a 17,000 sq ft pre-let.

Should Barclays search for 80,000 sq ft thought to be under offer at Three Piccadilly Place be completed in

The two strongest sectors at the moment for us are hotel development and student accommodation, and I think that will continue. Many of the budget hotels are in expansion mode, both UKbased and foreign operators.

We've just signed our fourth central Manchester hotel in as many years and are on site with three student schemes in Liverpool, and we're tendering for more. Clearly towns and cities with a strong business or tourist offering, such as Manchester, are attractive for those chains.

Equally, university towns are continuing to see investment in high end student accommodation.

Q4 and the reported TMT sector activity continue at pace, then Manchester is certainly on course to surpass the 1m sq ft mark this year.

Commercial agents share similar optimism reporting positive news for regional city centres as economic growth forecasts improve for the better. This in turn is seeing agents like GVA make slight adjustments in average regional office rental forecasts with average rental values to rise by 0.6% this year, 1.7 per cent next year and 2.7 per cent in 2017.

The one challenge that all regional city centres still face is the absence of considerable speculative Grade A office development. The lack of institutional lending to such schemes outside of the M25 has had a detrimental effect on UK cities’ ability to attract developers with

Although it's still early days, there's been a noticable increase in enquiries for industrial schemes.

We've had as many in the last month as in the last four years.

They are mostly end user-led, as speculative development is still restricted due to finance. The locations are often determined by major transport routes, which reflect the types of schemes we're looking at, and the M6 and M62 remain popular. As the high street is changing, it seems there is greater interest in distribution units from online retailers and home delivery companies. Retail also remains strong and we continue to work in this sector with supermarkets and retail parks.

Prices, however, are still very competitive and the industry's challenge has been to get used to much tighter margins over recent years. As workload increases, it is hoped margins will improve to more sustainable levels along the supply chain. There will also be a need for a re-gearing by professionals, subcontractors and main contractors to meet the growing demand. Those who survived the recession should now be in a much stronger position and contractors who are turning a profit are able to assist developers in getting projects off the ground.

the financial firepower to see projects through. But, as optimism grows through an improved economic climate hopefully it won’t be too long before we see some considerable speculative office development forthcoming.

The one challenge that all regional city centres still face is the absence of considerable speculative Grade A office development.

Expert analysis

University towns are continuing to see investment in high end student accommodation.

FINANCE

JON GORMAN commercial solicitor at Maxwell Hodge

Over the five years since the government introduced Empty Property Rates (EPR), landlords across Merseyside have been hit with crippling business rates for vacant properties.

We have seen some landlords even resorting to demolishing their properties rather than paying the rates required while unable to find new tenants. Others have even seen their business rates exceed the potential rental incomes.

Paying tax on an empty property in this difficult economic climate is actually hampering development and progression. Demand for commercial property is still low and it's seemingly unfair that property owners are being hit with enormous business rates on empty properties that they can't let.

The intention of EPR is to incur 100% charge on any properties that remain empty beyond a three to six month period. With no rent coming in to pay the bills how can landlords be expected to survive the less than buoyant economy.

Business rates are now being seen as a barrier to regeneration, with developers building less in towns and

cities deemed as more high risk because demand isn't strong enough, but it's this exact regeneration that then stimulates higher demand.

A recent EPR report only highlights this issue, 92% of people interviewed in the North West stated the policy was a barrier to town centre regeneration, while 89% felt the policy was restricting overall economic growth.

Landlords need all the help they can get in this difficult economic climate. I would suggests that the government start to offer longer exemption periods or abolish EPR altogether. This gives commercial property landlords breathing space to survive the harsher economic climate and get the commercial property market moving again.

URBAN REGENERATION

increasing pressure, particularly in those districts that currently lack open space or a supporting commercial infrastructure. The opportunities do perhaps outweigh the challenge, insofar as change of use offers a potential lifeline to buildings that no longer have a viable commercial offer, but make a substantial architectural contribution to the civic setting; we can see several examples of this in Liverpool city centre.

Architecturally, there is significant merit in many of the currently vacant buildings in the centres of our cities, and conversion to new uses is a viable, sustainable option with the application of a little imagination. The endgame must be a replenished civic identity in our northern cities, not solely the major centres of Manchester and Liverpool. Growing urban populations to levels at which they sustain a civic and a commercial infrastructure must be a priority.

Our cities need to be active, confident centres with opportunities for employment, living and culture, and our legacy of vacant commercial buildings may just hold the key to a sustainable urban resurgence.

MATTHEW ASHTON RIBA director, MgMaStudio

Recent proposals to relax the planning controls for change of use could have a profound effect on the character of cities in the North West. Is this the moment for us to look again at the fabric of our cities, the inherent potential embodied in the existing building stock?

There are both opportunities and challenges to inserting new uses into 'commercial' settings; can we be certain the infrastructure exists to support mixed-use cities, for example. Amenity will be an

Property owners are being hit with enormous business rates on empty properties that they can't let.

Our cities need to be active, confident centres with opportunities for employment, living and culture, and our legacy of vacant commercial buildings may just hold the key to a sustainable urban resurgence.

MOVE COMMERCIAL 39

Land Rover Experience Key events

Photos by Tom Murphy

Manufacturing tour and drive experience at Halewood Move Commercial was invited to explore the Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing production facility at Halewood.

The Land Rover Experience team hosted the event, which started with a tour of the production line at the facility and a chance to ask the tour guides questions about the production process and the success of the manufacturer in the North West.

After refreshments it was then time to put a vehicle to the test in the company of one of Jaguar Land Rover’s trained instructors.

The Range Rover Evoque was taken to the demanding, purpose-built off road track, which included features such as deep water, steep slopes and dramatic side angles in a hands-on demonstration.

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5

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3

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1. The cars took on the challenging test track. 2. Land Rover's production line. 3. Machinery at the plant. 4. Lead instructor Tony Scott. 5. Water was just one of the hazards.

6. The Land Rover Experience. 7. The latest models were on display at the centre. 8. A new car is built every 82 seconds. 9. The Range Rover Evoque. 10. Danielle Connolly (Land Rover Experience), Stephen Hurrell (Move Commercial), Tony Scott (Land Rover Experience) and Tom Kerwin (Move Commercial).

40 MOVE COMMERCIAL

By Stephen Hurrell stephen@movepublishing.co.uk

The North West as a digital hub Digital communities in the North West, such as the Sharp Project and Media City in Manchester and the Baltic Triangle area in Liverpool, are thriving. But are these centres enough to make the North West the UK’s digital hub? We invite three industry experts to examine the role of digital on the region’s economy and what developers should be doing to facilitate digital growth.

Dennis Kehoe Chief executive of AIMES Grid Services

Katie Gallagher Director of Manchester Digital

Tim Heatley Director of Capital & Centric

The North West as a digital hub Lunch debate

What is a digital hub and why is it important for the region?

KG: The culmination and convergence of technology means the North West has a more mature creative sector than anywhere else in the UK. When you talk about a digital hub you need property and you need space that is affordable for digital companies. Having them somewhere like the Greenhouse at Media City or the Sharp Project does support the success of the digital sector.

But it is equally important to have that infrastructure. For example if you’ve got broadband, access to markets and good transport, the sector will flourish.

TH: It is still, in the north, very much in its infancy in many ways.

It’s an interesting question; are digital hubs people-driven or is it actually an infrastructure thing?

It’s a bit ‘chicken and egg’ really.

Do people get together and then the infrastructure has to support that or does the infrastructure have to be put in place for a digital

industry to develop?

KG: Digital is all about people and all about talent. Obviously for those people to do things better and quicker and faster and to remain globally competitive then having an infrastructure to support that and allow them to be efficient about the way they do business is critical to the continuing success.

I do think we have a lag with some of the infrastructure in certain places.

DK: The people don’t need to sit next to the servers. A hub is a collection of a number of digital agencies. Developers need to ask themselves; is there are a building I need to put up to make this happen? Why do cities form? It is because they become viable centres for people to trade and make money and it is the same with digital hubs.

Are developers actively targeting the creation of digital centres in the North West?

TH: I don’t think they are getting

under the skin of it and thinking what is it that they need to do to attract the digital sector. It’s a collective of people, a frame of mind and a movement. In a way there’s not one thing that you can do as a developer in isolation. You

“ ”

hub next to Edge Lane where we’re based. The Baltic Triangle has been successful and one of the reasons that has happened is because we put a big fibre into Elevator Studios. It isn’t what gets the people excited but it is

Digital is all about people and all about talent

need a collective of developers and buildings and spaces and that includes operators of restaurants and bars. These are the kind of things people in the digital industry will be attracted to.

DK: There are two hubs in Liverpool; the creative quarter in the Baltic area and another digital

important. We’ve also put a big fibre into the Exchange Station development.

Just because you have good bandwidth doesn’t make it a creative hub but it does mean you can collaborate with, say animators in Bristol or Soho, for example.

Where the fibre is, is as MOVE COMMERCIAL 43

fundamental as where the roads are, so infrastructure does matter.

Is there enough collaboration between developers and digital companies?

KG: The advantage the North West has

is that they do collaborate pretty well.

DK: It is more joined up in Manchester. The more important people, the property guys, understand the role property has on the digital industry, the role digital infrastructure has on property and the combination of the two. There are some enlightened property people. To put a big pipe into a property could cost about £100k, which is nothing to a developer – they’ll spend that on gold taps. They need to think about structural investment when they are developing the properties.

TH: The problem with the property industry is that it is quite old 44 MOVE COMMERCIAL

fashioned in many ways. It is slow to adapt.

DK: And the business model is such a long time. These things weren’t around a

couple of years ago and a development project can span over 10 years.

TH: That’s another thing. At the minute the creative crowd are in jeans, trainers and hoodies but that isn’t going to be the case in 20 years’ time. They’ll be sharing offices with lawyers and business like that.

DK: They might be successful and quite wealthy but in numbers they will be quite small. A 50-man digital business is a big business, but there are hundreds of them.

There are 25,000 people working in Shoreditch so there are big numbers. Developers need to think about how they orchestrate big

numbers. The demand in the digital sector will not be from people saying they need a big office with 500 work stations.

The problem is businesses might be ready to move into a building and then be told it’ll take 90 days for broadband to be installed. They will then be told they’ve got to sign a three-year contract and for digital companies they might only have a three-month job on so it is not viable.

KG: We know digital companies, and I mean old companies who have been around for 10 years, and they saw the benefits of investing in broadband for their buildings quite early on. They made a £20k investment five years ago and now their clients are people like the BBC. I think it was a smart investment.

Will creatives be sharing offices with lawyers? We’re seeing a huge transformation in our membership because digital is an enabler and everybody has a digital team that looks like a digital agency. I’ve had calls from banks asking for advice on building a digital team and asking where they start. That kind of disruption and what faster broadband will mean for all of those businesses in the future will be interesting.

Are we seeing more of that type of space becoming available in cities?

KG: We are. It’s something I bang on about to property developers all the time. I was involved in the Sharp Project early on and the big thing was trying to get the council to understand the value of month leases. We did it and that was one of the reasons the Sharp Project was so successful. Bruntwood is moving around to that idea and Peel does that with the

“ ”

We’re seeing a huge transformation in our membership because digital is an enabler.

Greenhouse so some of them are doing it and showing you can make money out of it too.

TH: If the building is good enough they’ll stick about. You’ve got to have confidence you’re providing the right place for them that’s interesting and not too corporate because everybody wants their own identity and space.

DK: The property industry understanding digital infrastructure is important. From a technical point of view and a marketing point of view – after all this is the fast-growing part of our economy.

What can property developers do to create enough space for digital companies?

DK: They talk to themselves a lot but they probably do need to do get out more and talk to people.

There are people who get it and have visited the facilities and understand.

TH: The problem with property development is that it is a 10-year plan. To unravel that is to create a big mess. The good companies are able to deliver connectivity, interesting space, they’re a new breed and we count ourselves among them. It’s not rocket science, you just have to create the space.

DK: You’ve got Generation X coming through there and they

The North West as a digital hub Lunch debate

kind of get it a little bit more. We over-regionialise in the country.

We are two hours from London. In the US, if you’re two hours from San Jose you talk about working in the valley. If the connectivity is there you can live in the North and have a much nicer home for your money.

Manchester and Liverpool are too small as eco systems to bump into everybody you need to bump into. Being a connected Britain, it’s not about my hub versus your hub. It gets very parochial

“ ”

but it needs the digital infrastructure to go with it.

TH: The one thing that’s happened in Manchester is there’s still been an influx of people because that’s where the work is. That means there’s a shortage of apartments.

Now there’s a bit of pressure, whereas there is not so much pressure on commercial space but the commercial space that is available is not good. For example, Grade A space can be sterile and is not of interest to the digital industry. Things like the 12

Creating the right environment and getting the cost model right is essential.

sometimes but the growth of everything in the world is about being well connected. It’s not about starting your own little walled garden.

TH: What’s interesting with Salford and Manchester is they’ve combined their digital hubs while Liverpool has not done that yet. Manchester and Salford have funded large proportions of their digital hubs by taking a lease or guaranteeing a rental scheme – that’s how the property market works.

Should the North West be primarily focused on digital?

KG: I don’t think anything is exclusive. The mix has to be right.

There’s no point in having buildings when you haven’t got the right people. Having affordable space is a really good springboard to help those kinds of businesses

Tithebarn development are about creating something that is compartmentalised but not like a business centre. It’s not corporate, it’s individual, creative and more importantly, plug and play, to remove that waiting period to get internet installed. That will be the future and that will take time for developers to work through that process.

DK: Creating the right environment and getting the cost model right is essential. If you do that and can attract the talent this is the sort of place that will attract the correct sort of people.

KG: Graduates don’t know what is here and unless it is something like coding they don’t understand the rest of the roles available here.

They don’t see there are brands up here. Graduates don’t say they really want to work for an agency

or a software house, they say I want to work for IBM or Nike. That is their mentality. It is important for us to market what is here because there are brilliant brands such as MoneySupermarket and Late Rooms.

What would you like to see happen in the digital sector in future?

DK: It’s a simple one. It’s all about connectivity and getting more and more of our digital hubs connected and regionally interconnected to the economy that is London.

That’s what we’re doing, getting more and more things connected and more and more projects lit.

That is the race to get digital on the map.

KG: I’m actually really optimistic at the moment. For me all the right things are happening. If we can get the connectivity and genuinely become superfast cities, and none of the cities in the UK are at the minute, then I hope it can continue to grow as it has in the last few years.

TH: I’d like to see the local authorities, universities and developers working together to try to use this emerging sector as a driver for regeneration and a bit of a leveller for social inequality to give young people options.

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By Stephen Hurrell stephen@movepublishing.co.uk

Capital & Centric is currently one of the most active North West developers with over £30m worth of ongoing projects including the iconic Littlewoods building, 60,000 sq ft of industrial space in Speke Business Park and the ambitious 12 Tithebarn refurbishment. Just don’t call it a speculative developer, says company director Tim Heatley.

Developing demand

48 MOVE COMMERCIAL

acres of industrial brown field land in Rochdale, bought in 2008 after leaving property firm Modus.

“Nobody wanted it,” he explained.

“I picked it up for very little money considering the potential of it. I persuaded the European Regional Development Fund to bring that development forwards. That was really the push into commercial in a big way on my own.”

After joining forces with Adam Higgins of Capital Property, Capital & Centric was formed. In the same way classic cars were lovingly restored, Tim says the small team focuses on restoring buildings that have left other developers stumped.

“There are only four of us here on the development team,” says Tim. “At the moment a lot of good property development is about getting those details right, the design, the efficiency and making sure it’s a great new place for people to work and you only get that if you’ve got a close knit team of people working on it. Everything we do we’re proud to say has been let or sold and I think it is because of that attention to detail.”

“

We thought let’s go and find a building that is quite striking.

We like a challenge.

“

Having formed during the years of recession and developed land in unpopular, out-of-town areas, the success of Capital & Centric will be a surprise to many. Not Tim Heatley though, who has spent several years turning unwanted items into something people desire by thinking differently.

Tim first started making money by selling his art student friends’ artworks online in the early days of eBay while studying for a law degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. He says: “I was selling it and it was flying out the door for hundreds of pounds. After that I started buying beaten up old bangers and classic cars and doing those up and selling those on.”

Upon graduating he joined a law firm and bought his first house, continuing his desire to refurbish by buying a derelict building and renovating. Shortly after be bought a corner shop near his home and converted it back into living space.

The property bug had bitten and he quickly decided his future lay in development.

His first commercial site was 18

The list of successful ventures includes 100,000 sq ft at Speke’s Estuary Banks and two industrial estates in Rochdale but Tim insists what the company does is not speculative building.

“If it’s fundamentally better than the buildings around it but is less

expensive then we don’t think that is speculative. We think it’s pretty certain. That’s why the detail is important. We look at the competition and look at what it is we can do to make it better. That’s enough to persuade people to get out of their office or inefficient warehouse and move into something more interesting and cost-effective.

Bigger projects followed, including the 100,000 sq ft Estuary Banks in Speke and the purchase of the Littlewoods building in Liverpool.

He says: “With a pure developer head the Littlewoods building is a big old, empty building that looks good but also looks very sorry for itself. I was aware for over a decade or more it has been empty and a few developers have looked at trying to get it to work and they couldn’t. It’s a building everybody knows and that is exciting. That’s what caught our imagination and spurred our enthusiasm. We decided to see what demand we can create rather than looking at the building and asking what demand exists.”

The strip-out and conversion of

Tim Heatley, Capital & Centric Mover & Shaker

the building is now underway and Capital & Centric is also starting work on Churchill House, more commonly known as 12 Tithebarn Street, a building that splits opinion.

“We thought let’s go and find a building that is quite striking. We like a challenge as well and we like to show we can take something that isn’t of an appeal and do something with it in the same way I used to take cars and actually show people what can be done with something to make it look good.

“There doesn’t seem to be any quirky, funky, alternative type of office space in the Central Business District. There’s nothing that’s available for somebody who has got an individual sense of design and space and wants a bit of personality in that space.

“My view of buildings of the 60s and 70s is that we’re pulling them down left, right and centre and one day we’ll look back in the same way that in the 70s and 80s we were pulling down red brick mills. These 1970s buildings are exciting and interesting, they’re unusual because there’s so few of them left. That often is why we end up doing things speculatively or differently because we’re prepared to take an alternative view.”

Even with the two major developments taking up the time of the small team, Tim is already looking ahead to the next development. “We want to do more in Liverpool but we also want to do more in Manchester city centre and we’re actively looking for new opportunities for mixed-use schemes in the city centre,” he says.

“When you see a place that’s busy and the benefit that creates for the local economy, the sense of satisfaction that you get is massive.

I’m a lucky guy to be doing it every day and to be able to deliver these interesting places and spaces. That’s the thing that gets me out of bed in the morning.”

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THE CUSTOMER WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO A PAWNBROKING AGREEMENT WHERE THEIR ASSET WILL BE TAKEN AS SECURITY FOR THE LOAN. ALL CUSTOMERS MUST BE OVER 18. REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AS A TRADING NAME OF T.M.SUTTON LIMITED. REGISTERED ADDRESS 6TH FLOOR, 77 GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, EC3V 0AS. REGISTERED NO. 283556.

MOVE COMMERCIAL 51

Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk

When architect Harry S. Fairhurst set up a Manchester practice over 100 years ago, he found success by balancing forward thinking with a grasp of what was needed in the city. As the firm continues to thrive in his name the same approach remains strong.

Lasting Legacy Now known as Fairhursts Design Group, the practice has come a long way in terms of its scale, technology and the range of sectors it’s involved in. No longer is it a family business in the literal sense, although it’s said to have retained its “family atmosphere”, but it’s a 50 plus team with a second UK office in Southampton that has stuck by its North West roots. It’s also branched out to wherever in the world the work may be.

The achievements are unsurprising though as it only takes a glance at the portfolio of Harry S. Fairhurst’s Manchester buildings to see that the founder had stood the firm in good stead for a long future.

Harry formed the practice in Blackburn in 1895 and moved to central Manchester in 1905, before later being joined in business by his son P. Garland Fairhurst in 1925.

Over the years their work included the Rylands Building on Market Street, now Debenhams; as well as Whitworth Street-based shipping and packing warehouses such as Bridgewater House, which is now office space, and Lancaster House to name a few. In fact, Harry S. Fairhurst’s work has such a presence on Whitworth Street that the location is now said to be known by some as ‘Little 52 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Fairhurst Street’.

According to Trevor Cousins, an associate director at Fairhursts Design Group, one of the most prominent original Fairhursts buildings is Ship Canal House, built in 1924, and it serves as a constant reminder of the iconic legacy to present day staff.

Trevor, who joined the firm 16 years ago, says: “It actually sits outside my window now, so the funny thing is we’ve moved all around Manchester in the last 100 years and we’ve currently ended up

“ ”

We try to put something unique into all of our designs.

facing one of our original buildings.

“That building at the time was the tallest in the UK, so he sort of set that precedent of having tall

office buildings. It’s used for commercial purposes and originally it was designed as an office and warehouse for packaging companies.”

For Fairhursts, not only a solid reputation was constructed alongside the Manchester buildings but some successful partnerships with clients have been built up throughout the decades and have been maintained through to recent years too.

Trevor explains: “P. Garland Fairhurst was interested in modern technology and integration of services, and providing a massive amount of natural light into the buildings, so he’d done quite a bit of research on that from American buildings.

“Fairhursts then got more involved with highly serviced buildings and, from 1931 onwards, it had its first commission with Christie Hospital which is well known globally, and we’ve had an ongoing relationship with the hospital ever since. The last major commission we did for it was in the mid 80s, for the Wolfson Molecular Division building.”

Other clients who have chosen Fairhursts for many years include Manchester University and UMIST (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology). Back

in 1950 the practice masterplanned university campuses, predominantly working on science, design and research buildings, and it’s currently in the process of refurbishing campuses again.

Meanwhile Fairhursts Design Group has increased the sectors it works in over the last few decades, with Trevor highlighting that the firm now takes on “everything from leisure facilities, TV studios, research and offices” by masterplanning, landscaping and delivering buildings.

Such flexibility has paved the way for work on prominent Manchester developments within Spinningfields circa 2000, when the company completed designs for Number 1 Deansgate and Number 1 Hardman Boulevard.

Trevor adds that Fairhursts also “instigated” Salford’s MediaCityUK with Peel Holdings, having counted Peel as one of its “big clients” since the early 90s.

“The site at Dock 9 was something we developed with Peel which allowed them to be the winning bidder to bring the BBC to the North. Off the back of that we designed and delivered the studio building down at Salford Quays.”

With MediaCityUK taking Fairhursts up to the recession, Trevor says the firm’s work beyond

Trevor Cousins, associate director at Fairhursts Design Group

“ ”

We want to keep Manchester to ourselves in a way.

Manchester and as far as Europe, the Middle East and China was what then helped it “thrive” during the difficult climate. All of which was co-ordinated from its Manchester head office.

It’s still continuing to pursue projects internationally, with further work in Thailand and Oman also in the pipeline, however there’s an enthusiasm to maintain a working presence in the firm’s native North West too.

“There’s nothing like a Manchester practice being given the opportunity to design more buildings in its home city. That’s something we’d like to have more of.

“We’ve seen, in recent times,

Founding Business

London architects venturing into Manchester and as yet they haven’t pushed out the Manchester architects and that’s the way we want to keep it. We want to keep Manchester to ourselves in a way,” adds Trevor.

He says after tough times for the industry things are “picking up”, with Fairhursts welcoming new staff and commissions.

Two Liverpool University projects are coming up and further work for Manchester United will follow years of previous projects for the club. Meanwhile healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline will draw from Fairhursts’ wealth of experience in scientific and research related work.

Trevor says: “We consider ourselves to be very good, if not excellent, at a lot of sectors in terms of design work, but one sector that’s taking off currently is research and on that front, for buildings we’ve got the know-how of how things go together so our next way of thinking is how can they go together in a more sustainable manner.

“We’d like to think that we’re still at the cutting edge of technology where it can be used, and we’re forward thinking and will try and put something unique into all of our designs. I think Harry S. Fairhurst would be very pleased to hear and see that, it’s what we always strive for.”

MOVE COMMERCIAL 53

Opinion After a number of years of struggle there is tentative optimism in the industry that the office market is showing signs of recovery. We ask four prominent property market experts if the market is on the up in 2013 and what that means for the North West.

MARK WORTHINGTON director, North West office agency, CBRE says…

2013 has been the year when you finally get the feeling we have turned the corner after five years of stagnation. So far, the improvement in the property market has been evident by the return of developers to Liverpool and a much more active market for small office suites driven by start-ups.

The developers have so far been targeting the residential and hotel sectors and their re-emergence is obviously great news as it improves the physical environment of the city and adds life to neglected parts of the city centre such as Dale Street but it is also important in taking out sizeable chunks of poor office space. We currently have a substantial overhang of vacant office space in the city, which is a drag on the market and deters investment in the office stock. A reduction in supply through conversion to other uses is good news.

54 MOVE COMMERCIAL

The increase in demand from small start-up companies is very encouraging for the future but we urgently need more inward investment. It is therefore vital to the future success of the city that we maximise the benefits from hosting the IFB in 2014 and use this as a showcase to demonstrate what a great city Liverpool is and attract new companies to take us forward.

“As for the out of town market, like the city centre, South Manchester has continued its strong performance in 2012 and take up to the end of Q3 2013.

“The increase in demand from small start-up companies is very encouraging for the future but we urgently need more inward investment.

PAUL KELLY partner at Knight Frank in Manchester says…

To date, the office market in 2013 has performed relatively well and continues to paint a positive picture for Manchester. Within the city centre, the market has been dominated by the smaller sub-5,000 sq ft deals, which are borne primarily through occupier churn. This year has also seen the arrival of new occupiers into the city centre market, most notably Worldpay, who took 22,000 sq ft at 3 Hardman Square in Spinningfields. The expectation for the city centre for 2013 is that take up will surpass the levels achieved in 2012.

As for the out of town market, like the city centre, South Manchester has continued its strong performance in 2012 and take up to the end of Q3 2013 has been in the region of 440,000 sq ft.

Again, the majority of deals have been at the smaller end of the scale. However, the larger lettings to Balfour Beatty, UK Fast and Jacobs means that there is dwindling existing opportunity for those occupiers seeking new accommodation of 20,000 sq ft or above in this marketplace.

This will inevitably create a scenario where these occupiers are forced to consider design and build opportunities to satisfy their requirements.

This sustained period of relative stability and positive performance in the office market has led to a change for the better in market sentiment.

We are now seeing developers and landlords starting to reconsider and re-evaluate development opportunities that have been mothballed for the last five years.

Opinion

RICHARD LACE associate director, OBI Property says…

Having experienced five years of toil since the economic crisis in 2008, 2013 may well be remembered as the year things finally start to turn around in the commercial property sector. In central Manchester it was the year in which new commercial office development returned with Argent and GMPVF commencing construction of One St Peter’s Square on the back of a pre-let to KPMG. A number of notable transactions were recorded during Q3, for example, and the most significant of these was a 17,000 sq ft pre-let at 1 Hardman Street, Spinningfields to Mediacom.

Allied London, advised by OBI, commenced construction of the building, which fronts on to Deansgate, in July with the building due for completion in April 2014.

It is also the year that large corporate occupiers began returning to the market with significant live requirements

being circulated in the market that have the ability to kick start further new development. Whilst we will have to wait until 2014 to see if this is the case, 2013 take up levels to date certainly seem to reflect the increased feelings of positivity amongst the city’s agents.

2013 is also the year we have seen Manchester continue to establish itself as the UK’s second city after London, with a continued influx of funds seeking to invest money in property outside of London and the south east. Add to this the recent Experian survey, which was reported in the Financial Times last month that ranked Manchester as the “most vibrant urban area” in Britain and there is a lot to be positive about.

I do not want to tempt fate but things are looking up!

“2013 is also the year we have seen Manchester continue to establish itself as the UK’s second city after London, with a continued influx of funds.

“There is a general sense of optimism around the marketplace which has been nonexistent for a number of years.

ANDREW OWEN director, Mason Owen says…

I think there is a definite sense over the course of the last six months that things have started to improve from an occupational point of view with increased number of tenants looking to acquire space in the city centre.

At the same time there has been an increased demand from potential developers looking to purchase buildings to redevelop for alternative uses. The best example is the Albion House, the old White Star Shipping Line office which is due to be converted into a 350-bed apart hotel.

Another is No. 2 Moorfields, which was acquired recently and where an alternative use is likely. Both deals are taking stock out of the market which can only be good for the marketplace.

One of the issues we’ve had is the high level of vacant available accommodation and that will reduce that inevitably which is a good thing. The vast majority of those kind of buildings have been older stock classed as grade C which is unlettable within the marketplace but which still appears on the availability figures.

The market remains extremely fragile and I don’t think we’re out the woods yet but there is a general sense of optimism around the marketplace which has been non-existent for a number of years. We’re coming from a very low base because over the past few years demand has been very poor so there’s a sense we’re starting to see some movement.

MOVE COMMERCIAL 55

Photos by Peter Kelly

Pegasus House Breakfast Launch Key events

Breakfast launch for new-look Pegasus House Key commercial property agents attended a breakfast launch to help celebrate the completion of Knowsley’s Pegasus House refurbishment.

The former Vertex regional HQ building, based at Kings Business Park, was constructed in late 2000 and provides 31,588 sq ft of office space accommodation across three floors. The floors are configured into a V shape with the ability to subdivide in wings.

During the special October event, hosted by Jones Lang LaSalle and Keppie Massie, guests not only had the chance to network and look around the new-look offices and double height glazed reception, but there was also a prize draw.

Rupert Barron, of Colliers International and Mark Worthington, of CBRE, were the lucky winners on the day.

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3

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8 1. Prize draw winners Rupert Barron (Colliers International) and Mark Worthington (CBRE) with host agent Andrew Byrne (Keppie Massie) 2. Nick Harrop (Hitchcock Wright & Partners), Paul Thorne (Mason Owen), Paul Fellowes (Investec) and Andrew Owen (Mason Owen) 3. Jonathan Lowe (GVA), Tim Garnett (Venmores) and Robin Evans (Matthews & Goodman) 4. Host agents Stuart Keppie (Keppie Massie) and David Scott (Jones Lang LaSalle) 5. Stephen Gleave (Bridgeman Property Consultants), Robert Diggle (Edward Symmons) and Jon Swain (Mason Partners) 6. Simon Roddam (BE Group), Richard Wharton (Jones Lang LaSalle) and Sam Birtwistle (Be Group) 7. Jos Baxendell (BE Group), Jonathan Baucher (Cushman & Wakefield), Andrew Gardiner (TSG Property Group) and Chris Hennessy (Matthews & Goodman) 8. Guests networked at the launch

FOR SALE/TO LET

Pegasus House

Pegasus House • Kings Business Park • Knowsley L34 1PJ

4,777 to 31,588 sq ft (443.8 to 2,934.5 sq m) With 133 car spaces • Prestigious HQ building available • Situated at the entrance of Knowsley Business Park

• Air conditioning • Full access raised floors • Double glazing throughout • 12 person passenger lift connecting all floors • Suspended ceiling and recessed fluorescent lighting • Male, female and disabled WC’s to all floors

andrewbyrne@keppiemassie.com

0161 828 6440 www.joneslanglasalle.co.uk

Richard.Wharton@eu.jll.com

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looking for a conference venue that means business?

The Marriott Manchester Victoria & Albert is the ideal venue for events of every size and style, from large dinners or business conferences to small intimate meetings or training sessions. Our largest room, the John Logie Baird Suite is capable of accommodating up to 240 guests. Alternatively opt for one of the hotel’s seven syndicate rooms, ideal for board meetings, private dining or training sessions.

For all enquiries call 0161 832 1188 or email events@thevandamanchester.co.uk 58 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Move Commercial Events Nov Dec

EVENT PLANNER Our pick of the best local events

20 NOV

22 NOV

5 DEC

11 DEC

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Meet and Eat Bierkeller, Liverpool One 12.15pm – 2.30pm

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce – Property & Construction Section Lunch 34 Princess Street, Manchester 12.15pm – 2.30pm

Women In Property Christmas Cocktails Albert Square Chop House, Manchester 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Action for Business Forum Cloud 23, Hilton Deansgate, Manchester 7.30am – 9.30am

An informal networking event representing a great chance to hand out business cards and make new contacts.

A chance to network and enjoy Christmas cocktails with other women in property.

Lunch and a guest speaker covering all things property and construction.

www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk

www.womeninproperty.org.uk

www.gmchamber.co.uk

www.gmchamber.co.uk

21 NOV

28 NOV

PICK OF THE MONTH

Stockport Business Expo Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport 9.00am – 4.00pm (free)

Talk of Manchester Business Awards 2013 National Football Museum, Manchester 7.00pm – 1.00am.

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner 2013 Anglican Cathedral

Business networking, free seminars, workshops and 50+ exhibitors showcasing the best Stockport businesses have to offer. www.stockport-business-expo.co.uk

The inaugural ceremony will include accolades such as best procurement company, best entrepreneur and best business law firm.

5 DEC

The Chamber’s biggest event of the year is a black-tie event and the flagship of the city’s business calendar. www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk

5 DEC

19 DEC

Christmas at the Panoramic Penthouse, Liverpool Panoramic Private Apartment, West Tower 6.00pm

Forum for the Built Environment – Regenerating Warrington Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester 7.30am – 10.00am

Festive food and drinks with the Association of Woman in Property in the Panoramic’s penthouse suite. www.womeninproperty.org.uk

The International Festival for Business organisers have moved into the festival’s headquarters at Merseytravel’s Mann Island offices as more information on the event is announced.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has been confirmed as the official event

Entries open for 2014 RICS Awards The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is looking for entries for its prestigious 2014 awards after opening the nominations for next year’s event.

Honouring the best regional developments across land, property

partner for the festival and will host 15 events covering a look at various worldwide markets and sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, food and education.

Max Steinberg CBE, chairman of the International Festival for Business, says: “Receiving the support of UK Trade & Investment is of vital importance as we continue the countdown to next year’s festival.

The range of UKTI events announced represents the breadth and depth of the IFB and its relevance to all areas of business.”

One Angel Square

and construction, the awards help to highlight the work done by architects, surveyors, developers,

Andy Farrall (director of regeneration, Warrington BC) discusses regeneration plans for Warrington. www.fbeonline.co.uk

www.thetalkofmanchester.co.uk

New events added to International Festival of Business 2014

Discussion and networking with a focus on Manchester’s biggest business issues.

Entry free for members/£15 non-members.

The festival, which will feature over 100 business-themed events across the city in June and July 2014, will welcome 250,000 delegates and bring over £100m of investment into the UK, according to estimates.

Max Steinberg

planners and engineers, according to the group.

The awards, says the RICS, “are not purely based on the building that has been submitted; they are about the scheme as a whole. The judges take into consideration the impact it has had on the community, how the end user feels about the scheme and what really makes it stand out from the rest.”

The award covers eight categories within the property sector, with the winners set to be announced on Thursday 8 May 2014 at The Palace

Highlights include the Global City Leaders’ Summit on 18 June, Accelerate 2014 at the ACC on 20 June and the UK Property Forum on 2-3 July.

However, other events including Sound City Digital, a showcase of British manufacturing and the International Trade Expo will also take place across the action-packed two months.

The most recent event to be added to the calendar is the Trade Association Forums Annual Conference and the 12th annual Best Practice Awards black tie gala. For full festival listings visit www.ifb2014.com.

Hotel in Manchester. Winners of the Community Benefit, Building Conservation, Regeneration and Design through Innovation categories will compete for the national Project of the Year award at the grand final in London in October 2014.

Winners of 2013 awards include One Angel Square in Manchester, which went on to win the Project of the Year award, and The Florence Institute in Liverpool, which won the Building Conservation title in the North West awards.

MOVE COMMERCIAL 59

By Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk

Airport City

Schemes taking shape Earlier this year the government’s ‘Investing in Britain’s Future’ paper outlined the UK’s determination to “succeed in the global race by creating growth and delivering lasting prosperity” through long-term investment in infrastructure. With a number of major schemes across the North West not only being talked about but actually finalised, funded or kickstarted, it would appear the region is already making a strong contribution towards achieving the goal.

60 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Infrastructure Focus

Fireworks annouce start of dredging at Liverpool 2

Steel piles for Liverpool 2

WHILE THE proposed High Speed Rail Link (HS2), which has been welcomed by several local authorities and is being primed to benefit the region’s transport networks, is still the subject of much debate, there are projects which are gathering plenty of momentum.

One scheme that is leading the way is Manchester’s £800m Airport City, as it’s shaping up to be the largest UK development project since the London 2012 Olympics.

Also said to be one of the largest developments in Europe, let alone the country, it’s set to create over 16,000 jobs with 5m sq ft of business space, including manufacturing, warehousing, offices, hotels, retail and leisure outlets.

Aside from the size of the development itself, the scheme has also prompted one of the largest British-Chinese joint ventures, as October saw the announcement that the Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) would

Royal Liverpool Hospital

be part of a consortium lined up to deliver the project.

The Manchester Airport Group (MAG), Carillion PLC and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) are also part of the joint venture.

As the announcement was made last month, integrated support services company Carillion confirmed that work would start “immediately” with the project being scheduled for completion over the next 15 years. The firm itself expects to invest up to £12m of equity in the development, as well as delivering up to £580m of construction work.

Carillion is also at the forefront of another of the North West’s major infrastructure projects at the moment.

In Liverpool the firm was previously selected as the preferred bidder for the city’s new £335m Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

While the government’s Spending Round announced it will “invest £4.7bn in health and social care

capital in 2015-16, including planned investment of £1.4bn in hospital upgrades and redevelopments,” the Liverpool scheme is set to put the region on the map once again.

The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust’s new facility will be the largest in the country to have all single bedrooms with en suite facilities, including a 40-bed critical care unit and 18 operating theatres.

It will also have one of the largest emergency departments in the North West.

The development was given the green light by Liverpool City Council’s planning committee in September, and Carillion recently invited local companies, suppliers and sub-contractors looking to get involved in the scheme to a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event.

The firm says the new Royal will be “one of the biggest construction projects in the city,” and is set to provide 750 full-time construction jobs, 60% of which will be for local

people and 15% form priority wards in the city.

Meanwhile construction is well underway on Liverpool 2, Peel Ports’ new £350m deepwater container terminal at the Port of Liverpool.

Due to open in 2015, the terminal will enable container ships from around the world to connect directly with the northern half of the UK and Ireland.

Hundreds of industry guests gathered to witness the launch of dredging operations for the twoyear scheme back in June, then in September the piling works stage of the project got underway.

According to Peel Ports, the current largely Victorian system of docks and locks has prevented the new generation of vessels from using the port, so the major investment into the site is “vital to the economic prosperity of the Port of Liverpool and the surrounding area”.

Around 5,000 new jobs are expected to be created at the port and in the supply chain when the facility is all up and running. Elsewhere in the region, details have been announced this month for the first phases of preparatory work on the Merseyside Gateway Project.

The Merseylink Consortium, which was named in June as the preferred bidder for the £600m bridge project, was granted planning approval covering improvements to the Bridgewater Junction in Runcorn. The works are said to be an “essential” part of the preparation for construction to start in earnest on the bridge next year.

The scheme features a six-lane toll bridge over the River Mersey as its centerpiece, and the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge will also be tolled as part of the project.

With work scheduled to start early next year and be completed in its entirety by 2017, the project aims to create thousands of jobs, secure inward investment and deliver regeneration benefits.

According the government’s Investing in Britain’s Future report, the Mersey Gateway Bridge is receiving a UK Guarantee of up to £500m to enable the construction to begin in 2014.

The government is set to publish a full update of its National Infrastructure Plan at the time of the Autumn Statement on 4 December.

MOVE COMMERCIAL 61

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Expert views Ask the panel

Do the government’s economic policies and initiatives focus enough on the business needs of the North West?

Concerns have been raised that official figures averaging UK growth are too heavily influenced by London and are not portraying an accurate nationwide picture. With this in mind, we ask four industry experts whether a ‘north-south divide’ is therefore impacting on business in the North West.

The stark facts are that Merseyside is short of about 6,000 start ups in getting to a regional balanced economy.

I have been an advisor to SMEs for over 30 years. Some would argue that government can do little to directly influence business startup rates in the regional economy.

However, what government can do though is help engender the right economic, social and political environment by removing unnecessary hurdles to starting a business including high taxes, red tape and misconceptions about what it takes to be an entrepreneur Part of the solution lies at the grass roots and probably starts at a cultural level in the home, in the community and at school.

Entrepreneurship and enterprise should be viewed as a career choice and perhaps what government needs to reinforce within the school syllabus is continuing focus around the business of business and the career it can offer school leavers.

Peter Alcock, business development director at Wilson Henry Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors

I’m sure businesses would welcome specific policies to inject cash into the North West economy, reduce tax liabilities and fuel costs. But the region has learned not to wait for help and is getting on with driving its own recovery.

The improvement in the North West economy is thanks to its dynamic entrepreneurial spirit.

I’m meeting with numerous new business start-ups, supporting expansions, recruitment, acquisition and investment, as people have decided to just get on with it.

The national expansion of some retail and hotel chains, for example, has helped by bringing short-term construction and long-term service jobs, and the North West is proving a popular location for both sectors. But investment too is on the rise, in particular commercial property as the North West is offering better yields than the capital.

Access to finance is fundamental to reducing the ‘north-south divide’ and a priority for the North West region is to support the creation of businesses and nurture their growth, through finance.

There have long been disparities between levels of business growth in the North and South of England however, developments such as more

Ultimately, the hard work of the region’s business community is bringing cash into the North West economy and driving up confidence here.

Mark Alexander, head of commercial legal services at Vincents Solicitors

localised funding schemes and support for key growth sectors are helping to boost morale and inspire entrepreneurs in the region.

The entrepreneurs in the North West are continually demonstrating their appetite for investment and aspirations for growth in their discussions with our fund managers.

My hope is that the region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will play a key role in delivering the government’s vision for a balanced growth strategy that is more evenly shared across the country. As funding is being distributed directly to the LEPs I will be looking to see all government funding schemes in the region, working closely together to build a strong North West economy for the businesses of the future.

Cliff Maylor, CEO of North West Fund

Construction is seeing major shifts in demand between the North and South but it’s more linked to basic economic growth than government initiatives. This is due to private sector developer-led schemes showing growth inside the M25 and along the M4 corridor. This can be compared to cities like Liverpool and Manchester, where private sector projects are thin on the ground due to surplus space and shortage of project funding and occupiers.

Public sector projects within education, health, custodial and leisure have helped sustain large construction companies' order books in the region during the recession and we've probably seen slightly more in the North due to 'catch up ' in investment to replace schools and extend hospitals.

In the region HS2 will have a major economic impact during construction and impact from predicted benefits of speed and capacity. Timescales of circa 15-20 years before completion are a concern though.

Manufacturing is traditionally strong in the North and shows signs of growth, but decisions on key initiatives like the planned new nuclear power stations will have a major impact as many northern knowledge-based organisations are part of the supply chain.

Gary Wintersgill, managing director at Kier Construction Northern

Grade A business space now available

Montell House Chester Business Park CH4 9RE Recently renovated with an exceptional specification by Prospect GB, Montell House provides Grade A offices occupying a prime position at the heart of one of the most prominent business parks in the North West. Located within the Kingsfield Court complex, this is the only newly refurbished building of its size – circa 10,000 sq ft – at Chester Business Park.

Also available to let

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