Investment and development company Glenbrook has appointed City Build to deliver its 61,000 sq ft office scheme on Princes Street in Stockport town centre. The former Marks & Spencer building has been undergoing preparatory works since Glenbrook acquired the building last year and the build work is now underway.
The appointment comes as Glenbrook have been supported with a £3.5m Government grant from the Getting Building Fund, a scheme designed to expedite the delivery of key economic projects across the country. GMCA secured Getting Building Fund grant to bring forward seven priority projects across Greater Manchester of which Stockport has two, STOK and Stockport Exchange.
Speculatively developed, STOK, will provide up to 61,000 sq ft of modern office accommodation, incorporating two large open floorplates of 13,300 sq ft and 15,500 sq ft on the 1st and 2nd floors respectively plus additional space of 20,000 sq. ft within the basement suitable for office, research & development or leisure occupiers, in the heart of the town. The ground floor office space, 7,000 sq ft, will front onto Princes Street with the potential for a number of retail units also onto Merseyway. The building will be completed by December 2021.
Commenting on the next steps Chris Lloyd, Investment Director for Glenbrook said: “We very much welcome the GMCA’s decision to allocate funding to STOK, which has already received interest from existing local office occupiers and companies looking to re-locate to high quality, flexible workspace from both south Manchester and the city centre. We will shape the final specification to meet the occupier’s needs but it will be primarily office-led, with a smaller amount of retail and leisure space to complement the mix on Merseyway.”
He continued: “We have been busy behind the scenes with the strip out and demolition works and have done some remodelling to the atrium to provide natural light through the building, including the basement. The ventilation strategy has been overhauled with the introduction of mechanical ventilation and air conditioning throughout. City Build are a superb local firm and we are confident that with the grant funding now in place we can make swift progress to deliver this super central office scheme for Stockport.”
Glenbrook has been working with interior design agency, Incognito and architect Linberg design associates to remodel the building which will include a central glazed atrium, the creation of two large open plan office floors, two 9-person lifts, cycle storage, drying facilities and a second floor outdoor terrace.
Cllr David Meller, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “STOK will bring more footfall into our town centre, diversify its offer further and again showcase the massive potential our borough has and is now realising. The development will help us deliver our Change Here ambition to make Stockport a better place to live, work, play and connect.
“The plans look fantastic and it’s testament to Glenbrook that they buy into the council’s bold vision to make our town centre fit the present and the immediate future as traditional retail becomes less of a presence – something obviously shown by them taking what was previously a well-loved Marks and Spencer and bringing a new vision for it. I can’t wait for STOK to open and contribute to what are exciting times for Stockport.”
CBRE and Edwards & Co are agents for any office scheme enquiries and Metis Real Estate are agents for any leisure or retail opportunities.
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