Flex operator signs for two floors at Sunlight House

Landlord Karrev will lease to BLOCK 25,000 sq ft of the grade two-listed Manchester building, which continues to fill up post £35m refurb.

Flexible workspace provider BLOCK will occupy the first and second floors of Sunlight House, signing a 20-year lease.

A planning application seeking consent for the fit-out has been submitted to Manchester City Council.

The site will be BLOCK’s first in the North. The firm has other workspace locations in Birmingham, Plymouth, Bristol, Exmouth, and Taunton.

BLOCK has a track record of working with heritage buildings like Sunlight House, including the grade one-listed Royal William Yard in Plymouth, according to a planning statement prepared by consultant Savills.

Ben Cheriton, managing director at BLOCK, said: “Sunlight House is the perfect fit for our business as we expand into the North.

“We were particularly drawn to the building due to its unique blend of historic character and modern workspace as the recent transformation makes Sunlight House an ideal home for our community. We look forward to welcoming members next year and becoming part of such a vibrant and evolving part of the city.”

Canning O’Neill represented BLOCK in the deal, securing a 20 year lease.

The workspace provider will become the latest flex outfit to open up in Manchester, following in the footsteps of Koba, X+why, Cubo, and Gilbanks, and joining stalwarts including Spaces and WeWork.

Benn Dickinson, leasing director at Karrev, said: The addition of BLOCK to Sunlight House’s tenant roster is one that aligns cohesively with our strategy to deliver a best-in-class occupier experience.

“From the very beginning of our renovation project, we have positioned our occupiers as a priority, which includes responding to modern workplace needs and providing a flexible space for businesses of all sizes to thrive. We’ve seen the global flex market grow from £37bn to £200bn in the last five years, it is evident that there is demand for flexible co-working space and partnering with BLOCK to deliver this only strengthens our offering moving forward.”

Karrev’s £35m redevelopment of Manchester’s 210,000 sq ft Sunlight House completed in October.

The refurbishment work to transform the grade two-listed, 14-storey building off Quay Street was carried out by G&H Group and MYCO Interiors.

Karrev, which acquired Sunlight House from Abrdn for £42m in 2022, has already let 25,000 sq ft across three floors to PINS Social and 22,000 sq ft to the Crown Prosecution Service.