The Crown Prosecution Service is returning to its former offices at Sunlight House on Quay Street in Manchester in what is thought to be the city’s biggest letting so far this year.
CPS is taking 3,217 sq m (34,626 sq ft) at the newly-refurbished building on a 15 year lease, with a break at year ten, at a rent of £118 per sq m (£11 per sq ft). The service moved out of the 18,580 sq m (200,000 sq ft) block to spend two years in offices at Old Trafford while Dutch fund Gadaricus BV carried out a £7m facelift.
The letting comes as the equivalent of 60% of last year’s total take-up of 42,325 sq m (455,600 sq ft) in central Manchester is already under offer in 1997, according to research by Richard Ellis.
However, RE’s Manchester office Market Reviewsays the statistic reflects a poor 1996 as the city centre suffered from a lack of large pre-lettings. Strong competition from South Manchester markets and a possible drop in confidence after the city centre bomb are thought to have affected take-up.
Donaldsons advised the CPS on the Sunlight House letting while Catella UK acted for landlord .
EGi News 02/04/97
