Learning expansion requested for Bridgewater House

Plans have been lodged that would make the whole 20,000 sq ft fourth floor available for educational use at the Manchester office building, as asset manager Catella APAM pursues a twin-track approach.

A change of use consent was granted for part of the vacant fourth floor in 2024, while the Victoria College of Art & Design took the fifth floor in December of that year.

The education sector in general is in growth mode in the Manchester office market, with recent deals including Arden University signing for 43,000 sq ft at 2 Hardman Street in the city’s largest 2023 office deal – a space it then expanded on a year later.

Place understands though that while the level of demand in that market means it makes sense for the landlord to make the whole fourth floor available for education, it very much sees Bridgewater House remaining a commercial-led environment.

Internal changes at the building have been made, giving key educational occupier Into its own entrance, while the reception and meeting areas for the office tenants have been professionalised.

Interior design firm The Friday Project is working for Catella APAM, which manages the building for Britannia Invest, on the project.

As set out in the design & access statement from TFP, a potential occupier is “keen on the space with existing educational use and this interest may extend to the remainder of the floor, subject to consent”.

Demand for this grade of office space is “limited at the minute” said TFP, with those occupiers in the market being driven by ESG, amenity and quality of space, leading them to favour new-build stock over older refurbished space. The fourth floor has remained vacant and lettable for a year.

Education is certainly a big player already at Bridgewater House: Into, which runs partnership study programmes as a bridge for overseas students to access the University of Manchester, occupies the third floor, and had previously signalled its desire to expand – although that interest has cooled, it is understood.

Manchester Metropolitan University also occupies space at the site, although this purely houses staff administration functions.

Bridgewater House is grade two-listed, having been built as a shipping warehouse in 1912. Along with the vacant fourth floor, around half of floor six is available, and 5,000 to 6,500 sq ft on each of the second and eighth floors.