Beauty Bay decides against Circle Square move

Fashion retailer Beauty Bay has decided against taking 30,000 sq ft at Bruntwood’s Circle Square in favour of expanding at its current base at Exchange Quay, Place North West understands.

The company, currently based in Building 5 at Exchange Quay and also with an office in Eccles, had originally come to the market with a 30,000 sq ft requirement in central Manchester.

Instructing Canning O’Neill as advisor, the company considered a number of city centre options including Allied London’s Bonded Warehouse and ABC; New Bailey; Bruntwood’s Circle Square; and 101 Embankment, before settling on Circle Square as its preferred option.

However, after more space became available at its current base at Exchange Quay, Place North West revealed in March the fashion company was weighing up whether to remain in Building 5, where it has a 7,600 sq ft office.

Although a contract has not yet been signed, it is understood Beauty Bay now favours remaining at Exchange Quay instead of relocating, and will now look to expand to take its total space to 22,800 sq ft over two further floors.

This leaves Circle Square without a pre-let, although it is understood Bruntwood currently in discussions with a number of interested parties.

Work on two of Circle Square’s offices began in November last year, and these buildings will provide 400,000 sq ft of space and range between 17 and 14 storeys in height. Designed by architect Feilden Clegg Bradley, the project is being built by John Sisk & Son.

Overall, Circle Square is due to provide 1.2m sq ft of commercial space. The office agent for the development are JLL, Knight Frank, and Savills.

Bruntwood and Canning O’Neill declined to comment.