Argent is joining Merlin International in Manchester to build a huge leisure complex anchored by Warners at the Great Northern Warehouse site, and Burford is looking at CIS’s Shudehill site as the most likely location for its first Trocadero outside London.
Merlin chairman and chief executive Peter Jevans said that legal agreements have been drawn up and Warners will take a 22-screen multiplex cinema.
Jevas already has consent for 92,900 sq m (1m sq ft) of leisure, retail and offices and now expects to start building the 41,805 sq m (450,000 sq ft) leisure phase, including the cinema, within six months. The scheme will include 1,600 parking spaces.
Burford chief Nick Leslau also confirmed that his company is looking at CIS’ and the Co-op’s Shudehill site, north of the city centre, for an entertainment complex on behalf of Trocadero plc. “We’re looking at Shudehill,” he said. “But it takes time to put Troc projects together … building a Trocadero is not like building leisure boxes. We’re only going to do it if we can get all the ducks in a row.” Jones Lang Wootton and Franc Warwick are advising Trocadero.
Local agents believe the Great Northern project will be hugely successful. St Quintin partner Chris Jones said: “This area of town is preferred by leisure operators because it is close to the G-Mex Exhibition Centre and Castlefield – the up-and-coming leisure and residential district – and consequently footfall is high.”
EGi News 23/01/97
