Northern Gateway, Mayfield head Govt funding wishlist

The struggling shopping centre owner has appointed KMPG as administrator after it said talks with creditors had reached "insufficient alignment and agreement".

After months of uncertainty, Boris Johnson yesterday confirmed an end to the sector’s enforced “hibernation” by announcing bars, restaurants and hotels can reopen from 4 July, but hospitality professionals are wary despite this positive step. 

Manchester needs to welcome investment and “grow the cake”, which means progressing plans for a second entertainment arena for the city, writes Michael Ingall of Allied London.

Following a strong year for Manchester's workspace market in 2019, the first quarter of 2020 continued in the same positive way, with high-profile occupiers, both homegrown and inward investors, seeking to relocate to new offices, writes Richard Lace of OBI.

The Manchester-based property group has promoted Anna Main to the board after less than a year with the business, as it looks to expand its commercial asset division. 

Agents dismissed talk of the potential death of offices following the Covid-19 lockdown, reporting an upturn in leasing activity in Liverpool and Manchester over the past two weeks. However, they predicted major changes to occupier demand in the short and long term, which will impact the lettings market in the months ahead.  

The consultancy’s flexible workspace arm is going ahead with its 26,000 sq ft Windmill Green lease and looking for future opportunities, even if it is unlikely to open further sites in 2020 beyond its current pipeline. 

The Greater Manchester and Liverpool mayors said town centre regeneration plans could take a different course in the wake of the pandemic, and pressed the Government to deliver adequate funding to help the region emerge from lockdown.

US alternative asset manager Ares Management is nearing a deal to sell the 320,000 sq ft Manchester office building for a price in the region of £150m.