BT has lined up the English Cities Fund’s New Bailey as the frontrunner for its new circa 200,000 sq ft Manchester hub.
The £650m New Bailey development is being delivered by a joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England.
The telecommunications giant had shortlisted four other contenders earlier this year, including Ask RE’s First Street, as well as its 100 and 101 Embankment, MEPC’s 4 Angel Square and Bruntwood’s SciTech Circle Square.
Manchester will remain one of BT’s eight key locations after a consolidation programme that will see its nationwide office stock slashed by 90%. BT appointed JLL in June for advice on shrinking its portfolio of more than 300 offices to just 30, as revealed by EG.
The new hubs will be a mixture of existing office buildings and new acquisitions.
BT said the consolidation programme is the biggest of its type ever undertaken in the UK, and it is expected to complete in 2023.
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