TalkTalk has signed a 106,000 sq ft letting at the Soapworks office scheme in Salford Quays, where the Home Office also signed for 54,000 sq ft.
The project, developed by the Carlyle Group, Nikal and Abstract Securities, was one of the largest vacant speculative products on the Greater Manchester market.
The deals represent two of the largest lettings likely to occur in the market this year.
TalkTalk has agreed to take a 15-year lease in the second-largest deal in Salford Quays after Bupa signed for 145,000 sq ft.
The value-for-money broadband provider will bring together its entire north-west presence to Salford Quays and the wider Media City area. TalkTalk agreed a 20,000 sq ft deal on a 10-year lease in October 2014 for a meeting and training facility.
The Home Office is taking a 10-year lease, and will relocate from a number of premises including Manchester airport in June 2016.
The 400,000 sq ft speculative redevelopment of the Colgate factory completed in November 2014 but has since remained largely empty.
JLL and Canning O’Neill advised the landlord.
Carlyle Group director Ben Du Boulay said: “When we commenced the redevelopment of the former Colgate factory in Salford, we were confident that there was a strong latent demand from regional occupiers across both the public and private sectors for high-quality office space, particularly if it was located in such an iconic an historical building as Soapworks. Both lettings are a significant endorsement of that belief.”
TalkTalk director Nigel Sullivan said: “As a technology company, we believe it’s important that our working environment reflects our digital-first culture. It’s exciting to be moving to a building that offers best-in-class facilities and will be a great investment in Manchester.”
