John Lewis Partnerships’ fast-growing internet business has led the retailer to scour the north of England and Scotland for two 40,000 sq ft call centres.
The UK ’s best-known department store chain has shortlisted four buildings in Manchester and two properties in Glasgow for its requirement.
In Manchester , JLP has shortlisted Ask Developments’ recently completed 180,000 sq ft office at its First Street scheme, where 38,000 sq ft is still vacant. Carlyle’s 3 Piccadilly Place and two buildings at Dutch developer Wereldhave’s Towers Business Park in Didsbury are also understood to be on the retailer’s shortlist.
In Glasgow , JLP is eyeing Wilson Bowden’s 110,000 sq ft Capella building at 5 Atlantic Quay and Kenmore ’s 96,000 sq ft Cuprum scheme in Cadogan Square.
JLP’s most recent accounts showed that its online business, John Lewis Direct, had bucked the decline in the retail market with a 25% increase in sales. Sales across the whole group fell by 3.4% in the year to January. CB Richard Ellis advises JLP.
Supermarket giant Tesco is also combing the North East for an 80,000 sq ft call centre for its growing banking business, Tesco Personal Finance. It is considering Highbridge Developments’ Cobalt Park but favours Grantside’s Quorum Business Park , both in north Tyneside’s enterprise zone. DTZ is advising.
Ben Cullen, national head of offices at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “There is a real theme for call centres to be relocated back to the UK , particularly to enterprise zones that offer attractive incentive packages.”
l Wilson Bowden has put the Capella building up for sale via Lambert Smith Hampton. The part-vacant building has an asking price of around £26m.
daniel.cunningham@rbi.co.uk
bridget.oconnell@rbi.co.uk
