Fortis signs first to new space at Ship Canal House

Catalyst Capital LLP has signed Fortis Bank as the first new office tenant to its refurbished Ship Canal House on King Street in central Manchester.

Fortis has taken a ten-year lease on 4,185 sq ft of the eighth floor of Ship Canal House at £28/sq ft. The international bank and insurance services provider will relocate from The Observatory on Chapel Walks.

Chris Cheap, partner at GVA Grimley, joint agents with Jones Lang LaSalle, said: "A letting to an occupier of the stature of Fortis Bank is testament to the quality of refurbishment Catalyst Capital LLP is undertaking at Ship Canal House. The building provides the best address in Manchester city centre and now has the quality of office space to match."

Ship Canal House was built in 1924 as the base of the Manchester Ship Canal Company and was purchased by Catalyst Capital LLP in 2005 for £19.3m. Comprising 70,000 sq ft of office space, over ten floors, the building is currently undergoing a refurbishment.

Richard Stokes, associate director with Jones Lang LaSalle, added: "Securing a blue chip multi-national company as the first tenant is a fantastic boost for Ship Canal House, and will provide confidence to future occupiers."