AO signs for 37,000 sq ft with Bruntwood

AO.com has taken an 11-year lease on the whole of the 37,000 sq ft Baskerville House at Bruntwood’s Riverside office complex, where the online white goods retailer will consolidate its Manchester operations.

The business is currently based at City Tower and an office suite within Riverside’s five-building cluster. Riverside, situated on New Bailey Street on the banks of the River Irwell near to Salford Central rail station, lies on the edge of the city centre’s core business district and has recently undergone a £5m refurbishment.

This included 1.5 acres of public realm, including a private courtyard with water features and sculptures a secure bicycle storage area and shower facilities. A new gym and personal training facility called FORM has also just opened.

Steve Caunce, chief executive of AO World PLC, said: “Moving our entire Manchester operation under one roof not only makes sense, but is a reflection of the business’s success and our continued growth ambition.

“Baskerville House is a perfect location for this next stage of our development and will meet the needs of our staff with great transport connections and excellent local amenities. Bruntwood has also really thought about how the environment at Riverside can benefit their customers and I have no doubt that AO and our people will thrive here.”

Andrew Butterworth, sales director at Bruntwood, said: “We have had a long-term relationship with AO World PLC since the company moved part of its business into Manchester city centre some eight years ago.

“We are very pleased that AO World has now chosen to locate all of its Manchester operation at Riverside, where we are sure the company will flourish and continue to build on its success and we look forward to supporting it with any future plans to expand.”

OBI Property represented AO World on the leasehold acquisition and has been appointed to design and project manage the fit-out. Bruntwood represented itself.