Lonza to take 12,000 sq ft at First Street 

The Swiss biotechnology firm has agreed to occupy the first floor at the 170,000 sq ft No 8 First Street in Manchester on a 10-year lease.

Consultancy Avison Young acted for the landlords, fund manager Patrizia and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, while Cushman & Wakefield acted for Lonza.

The company is relocating from Churchgate House on Oxford Street, where the headquarters of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority are located.

The firm, founded in 1897, joins multidisciplinary consultancy WSP – which is the largest tenant at No 8 with 55,000 sq ft over two floors – as well as Gazprom and Odeon, which have 40,000 sq ft and 26,000 sq ft respectively. 

The No 8 First Street office block completed last August two years behind schedule, following delays caused by the collapse of its previous main contractor Carillion and cladding firm Lakesmere. 

Avison Young and Savills are the joint agents for No 8 First Street.