BT seeks occupier for 60,000 sq ft of surplus Salford space

The telecommunications giant is on the hunt for a firm to sublease three floors it no longer needs at Four New Bailey.

BT agreed a 20-year lease on the entire 175,000 sq ft Salford office in 2020 at a time of seismic change for the office market.

Now, the firm has appointed JLL to find an occupier for 60,000 sq ft it no longer requires due to the adoption of a hybrid working model.

Like many companies, BT’s office requirements have changed over recent years as the business world has moved to allow staff to work from home more.

Broadly, firms are looking for less and better space and signing shorter leases than before the pandemic.

BT has revised its New Bailey needs once before. Before the lease was agreed in 2020, ECF – which developed the office – redesigned the building with two fewer storeys in line with BT’s revised requirement.

Richard Wharton, director at JLL, said that space becoming available at Four New Bailey provides a boost to an undersupplied market.

“Following a series of major office lettings throughout 2024, together with a number of large transactions due to complete by the end of the year, the availability of 60,000 sq ft of grade A offices at provides a unique opportunity for occupiers seeking large floorplates within one of the city centre’s premier business districts,” he said.

“There have already been a number of inspections by interested parties looking to activate their office relocation plans in 2025 and given the lack of new build availability providing 20,000 sq ft floorplates, we would encourage occupiers to get in touch as soon as possible for further information or to arrange a viewing.”

Four New Bailey is owned by Warrington Council, which forward funded the building to the tune of £112m.