Argent confirms Manchester Arts Council deal

  Argent has confirmed that it has agreed an 18,000 sq ft prelet with Arts Council England at its Hive office development in Manchester’s Stevenson Square.   The announcement follows the news last week that Manchester city council has bought the scheme’s freehold and entered into a joint venture agreement with Argent to kick-start its first phase.   The 76,000 sq ft HKR-designed building is aimed at creative occupiers in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.   A start on site is planned for September 2008.   The terms of the deal are not known but the Hive’s quoting rents are significantly below prime levels in order to attract the creative sector.   david.quinn@rbi.co.uk